Child Marriage

Background

• Garbha Dhan ceremony
  • marriage before puberty
  • consummation of marriage after puberty
• religious backing gave issues in reforms

Reform story

• Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar
  • Age of Consent Act 1860 by Canning 5662
    • minimum age 10yr
• Akshay Kumar Dutt: cited medical opinion against child marriage
• Rukhmabai Case (1884-1888): married as infant
  • argued that marriage invalid
  • taken to court by husband an grounds of conjugal rights
  • Rukhmabai lost
• 1890: death of 11yr Phulmoni due to sexual abuse by husband
  • Lansdowne 8894 brought Age of Consent Bill 1891
    • 12yr consummation age
  • Controversy: Tilak: Brit have no right to impose rules. Reforms should be by product of social movement
• RG Bhandarkar: research on Dharmashastra
  • $⟹$ Hinduism allows marriage post puberty

Overall, child marriage reforms failed. Acc to 1900 census, child marriage was still prevalent.