Coming from the conventional set of customs and traditions, Marwari women have always been considered the custodians of strong family values and ties. Subsequently their role in the homes has traditionally been of the home makers. But slowly and steadily things are changing.

"Today, Marwari girls are given good education and are qualified in various fields, where the girls have proved their potential time and again. But yes, many conservative families who still follow orthodox customs, are hesitant about women from their communities working on the professional front," says Piya Badada, a casting director in the television industry. "While my parents did not have any problems with me working in this industry, my relatives who would have otherwise seen me married by then, commented critically. However after they saw the work I did, many took back their words," she adds.

The status of a Marwari woman has undergone changes in the recent times. Be it any professional field like medicine, fashion, technology, art or media the women have proved themselves as go-getters. Indeed many a time they have stolen a march over the men in their community who prefer to carry on the lineage of trade and business, rather than strike out as professionals.

"Women of the community have always desired to invest in their talent. But many orthodox families did not allow their daughters or daughter-in-laws to work," says Prakruti Jain, a hair stylist in the city, even as she adds, ``But many families now are understanding the demand for change. Her mother Naina Jain, a housewife considers this necessary. "Earlier the Marwaris assessed a women's talent according to her unconditional devotion towards family care and value-based upbringing of children. But now even parents want their daughters to grow in the highly competitive world, to be at par with others and establish a recognition of their own."

Komal Somani, a financial advisor at Techno Pack, Mumbai feels that, "Many men in the tend to get into the family business and for that reason do not go in for higher education.

Likewise when they look for matrimonial prospects they prefer girls who are also not very highly educated. So marriage is the greatest issue for which parents have to restrict their daughters' higher studies. Or at least that's how it was till recently."