International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Social Sciences 2319 13 2 2024 04 14 Invisible Hand of Patriarchy: Tracing Modern Gender Concerns through Ancient Indian Texts 5 11 EN Sarkar Saroj K. 1 Department of Visual Arts, Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India Tyagi Nidhi 2 Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Graphic Era Deemed to be University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India Kumar Santosh 1 Department of History, University of Delhi, Delhi, India > Research Article 2023 9 9 2024 04 14 Patriarchy exists all around us in myriad forms. We often define patriarchy as a structure of oppression mostly targeted against women, but actually patriarchy is a structure under which all of us, irrespective of our socially constructed gender identities are oppressed. In this structure, we are the oppressor and we are the oppressed as well. But patriarchy is not a tangible entity whose presence can always be seen or felt directly. Many a times, patriarchy exists in so many different forms that we don’t even realize the inherent patriarchy vested in it. And that situation is even more dangerous because it makes us a participant in our own oppression. Our everyday actions, our ideas, perceptions, festivals and rituals etc all reflect this structure. Here mythology, folk tales, anecdotes, allegories etc plays a very important role. These stories through metaphors and symbolic meaning not only convey stories but also moral statements. They are carriers of moral values and social norms in such a way that they make way to our culture, to our subconscious mind and become part of our existence. In long run, these cultural norms make us look patriarchy as a natural and everlasting institution. Another thing, most of the scriptures was written over a period of time and reflects the tensions and dynamics of that era. Most of these scriptures like Manusmriti, or Dharma-shastras, Niti-shastras and epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata were actually prescriptive texts, that is, they tell us what ought to be and not what was. Thus, they represent an ideal that was not always followed or not followed as strictly as presumed. But when these texts reappear, they are exalted in their status and their teachings are taken literally, which makes patriarchy appear more rigid and which narrows down the scope of dynamics in the practice. In our research we will try to understand the theoretical, practical and liturgical values of our cultures through which patriarchy is reflected, exercised and legitimised. Copyright@ International Science Community Association