ABSTRACT
The women who were reported missing on both sides were designated 'abducted'. Though most of the missing women might have actually been abducted, some would have stayed back willingly. Lists received from Pakistan showed the figure of Muslim women abducted in India to be around. A few days later, Gandhi, quite matter of fact, returns to the issue of abducted women:Muslims in Pakistan have abducted our young girls. A few days later, Gandhi, quite matter of fact, returns to the issue of abducted women: Muslims in Pakistan have abducted our young girls. In the prayer meeting of 7 December 1947, Gandhi returns to the question of the abducted women, actually offering numbers: 'Some say that about 12,000 women had been abducted by Hindus and Sikhs and twice that number had been abducted by Muslims in Pakistan'. In all of this confusion and uncertainty, however, women suffered very badly, as did the old, the infirm and children.
