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Did a women labour force exist in Ancient India? If at all it did why have scholars in their academic works ignored it ? Either it has not been recognized or their work has been undervalued. It was a partial representation of women from above, as women of upper –classes only have found mention in historical records and little value has been accorded to the economic contribution of lower class women.

Economic condition of women in ancient India was influenced by three factors; their social position, their economic participation and their right to property. In this study an effort has been made for the problems specific to the women labour. Women labour was complementary in nature, they were equal woman of early India had to labour to earn her livehood.

The author Dr. Anita Singh in her study has tried to analyze the reasons for the prejudiced treatment of early Indian women. This work discusses women's economic participation, their role of decision –making and their right to property which gave them socio-economic security in ancient India.

There is a growing literature on women's economic history in early India as many valuable contributions to the interpretations of the various aspects of this subject. While some good works on different aspects of the economic condition of women in early societies have come to light, no study worth the name was made so far portraying women labour. It is therefore highly creditable to the young author of this work that inspite of the difficulties due to the want of adequate source –material, she has been able to throw much light on a number of points of great economic interest and importance having bearing on the economic history of ancient India.

There is no doubt that Dr. Anita Singh has made a refreshingly new approach to the various economic problems and her conditions are well balanced and judicious. She has raised certain problems which demands fresh inquiry and re –examination on the part of scholars interested in early women's economic history and problem specific to it. I hope, this book will receive the serious attention it deserve and provoke discussions on many unsettled problems relating to the early history of the women work force in Ancient India.