Yuvacharya Mahaprajna
Social Environment
Casteism was predominant. No one had the courage to touch the untouchables. Even people belonging to ordinary castes were not looked on with respect. Adorning oneself with gold and silver ornaments were very much in vogue. Ostentation and exhibitionism were accepted as part of the social system. It was obligatory for women to live in purdah. There was no question of women's education. Popular opinion was that only men could read and write. Marriages were also held at young age. A common social custom among women enjoined them to weep aloud while going through public places in the event of a death in their family. When the husband died the wife had to remain confined to a corner of her house for years.
Economic Environment
There were both poverty and prosperity in society but there was no problem of starvation. The rich and the poor were friendly to one another. Neither the poor envied the rich nor the latter ever thought of alleviating the lot of the former. The fatalistic view of life was responsible for the status quo.
