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India is one of the most rapidly developing democracies in the world, but in human rights issues it lags far behind western ideals. India's predominant religion, Hinduism, had its beginnings two and a half millennia ago and many rituals and rules instituted in ancient times have remained stagnant in the rapidly changing country (Keay, 2000:133). Archaic writings still partition contemporary society and condemn many to exclusion, abuse and subjugation based on their position at birth. Nearly half of India's people are mandated lesser beings because they were born female. A fundamental component of Hinduism is dharma which translates as "that which upholds or supports" (Leslie, 1989:23). It defines what one does and what one must do; both the real and the ideal. Dharma describes and prescribes specific actions based on an individual's position in the universe. These obligations are one's religious and moral duties, a 'righteousness', that when performed...

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