Srila Prabhupada mentions pardA in pre-Islamic India in a commentary to a [url="www.vedabase.com/en/sb/1/10/16"]Srimad Bhagavatam verse[/url]:
Quote:It is only the less intelligent persons not well versed in the history of the world who say that observance of separation of female from male is an introduction of the Mohammedan period in India. This incident from the MahÃÂbhÃÂrata period proves definitely that the ladies of the palace observed strict pardà(restricted association with men), and instead of coming down in the open air where Lord Ká¹âºÃ¡Â¹Â£Ã¡Â¹â¡a and others were assembled, the ladies of the palace went up on the top of the palace and from there paid their respects to Lord Ká¹âºÃ¡Â¹Â£Ã¡Â¹â¡a by showers of flowers.