If you happen to go through the thousands of volumes of books on medicine, surgery, education, dance, music, agricultrue and even warfare one will be amazed. Where in the world at that time were Women held equal other than India. When women in US, Britan and the rest of the world had no right to vote or to own any property Indian women had equal rights. Dowry is the equal right that a women in India take from her family when she leaves it and goes to stay with her husband.