The correct option is 2 only.
Explanation
The historical understanding of women's property rights in ancient India is derived by comparing normative Sanskrit legal texts (Dharmashastras) with epigraphic evidence, such as land grant inscriptions found during the Gupta and Vakataka periods.
Statement 1 is Incorrect: Sanskrit legal texts, particularly the Dharmashastras (such as the Manusmriti), generally did not allow women to have independent access to resources such as land. These texts prescribed that women should remain under the guardianship of men and did not recognize their right to hold or alienate immovable property on par with men.
Statement 2 is Correct: Epigraphic evidence contradicts the general norms of the legal texts in specific instances. Prabhavati Gupta, the daughter of the Gupta Emperor Chandragupta II and queen of the Vakataka dynasty, issued land grants (such as the Poona Copper Plate inscription). This indicates that she had access to land and the authority to grant it. This suggests that legal norms regarding women's property rights were not uniformly implemented across all sections of society, particularly among royalty.
Key Takeaway: While normative Sanskrit texts restricted women's land rights, historical inscriptions demonstrate that exceptions existed, revealing a divergence between legal theory and actual social practice, especially for women of high status.