Women’s Social Reform Movements in Colonial India: Initiatives & Organizations

Introduction

During colonial India, women played crucial roles in various social reform movements that aimed to address prevalent inequalities and injustices. These movements, led by prominent figures such as Pandita Ramabai, Tarabai Shinde, etc, sought to challenge traditional norms and practices that oppressed women and hindered their progress. Through advocacy, education, and activism, these women and their allies worked tirelessly to bring about positive change, paving the way for greater gender equality and social justice in Indian society.

Initiatives for Improving The Position Of Women

Abolition of Sati: 

• Due to the efforts of Raja Rammohan Roy, William Bentinck made the practice of Sati illegal under Regulation XVII of 1829 of the Bengal Code.
• Rammohan Roy called sati “murder according to every shastra”. 

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Preventing Female Infanticide

• Infanticide was prohibited and equated to murder by the Bengal regulations of 1795 and 1804. 
• A law passed in 1870 mandated parents to officially record the birth of every child and provide for verification of female children for some years after birth.

Widow Remarriage 

• Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar: (Principal of Sanskrit College, Calcutta) highlighted the issue of widow remarriage, and with his effort, the Hindu Widow’s Remarriage Act, 1856 was passed.
• D.K. Karve: In western India, also worked for the upliftment of widows, and himself married a widow in 1893. 
  • He became the secretary of the Widow Remarriage Association. 
  • He opened a widow’s home in Poona to give the high-caste widows an interest in life by providing them with facilities for vocational training.
• Jagannath Shankar Seth, Bhau Daji, and Vishnu Shastri Pandit actively promoted girl’s schools in Maharashtra. 
• Vishnu Shastri Pandit founded the Widow Remarriage Association in the 1850s.
• Karsondas Mulji initiated Satya Prakash in Gujarati in 1852 to advocate widow remarriage.  
• Veerasalingam Pantulu in Madras made similar efforts. 
• B .M. Malabari, Narmad Dave, Justice Govind Mahadeo Ranade, and K. Natarajan, Jyotiba Phule and his wife Savitribai, among others, advocated for the right of widows to remarry. 

Controlling Child Marriage

• Native Marriage Act (or Civil Marriage Act), 1872: This act was a legal step against child marriage. 
  • However, its impact was limited as it was not applicable to Hindus, Muslims, and other recognised faiths.
• B.M. Malabari: Advocated for a change in legislation, resulting in the Age of Consent Act (1891), preventing the marriage of girls under 12.
• Case of Rukhmabai: Pushed the reformers to get the Age of Consent Act passed. 
  • The case was related to the restitution of conjugal rights. [UPSC 2020]

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• The Sarda Act/The Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929: Further increased the marriage age to 18 for boys and 14 for girls. This came into force in 1930.
• Post-independence: The Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act, 1978, raised the marriage age for girls from 15 to 18 and for boys from 18 to 21 in India.

Education for Women

• Calcutta Female Juvenile Society: established by Christian missionaries in 1819, was among the earliest initiatives for girl’s education.
• Jagannath Shankarsheth ‘Nana’ and Bhau Daji were among the active promoters of girl’s schools in Maharashtra. 
  • Jagannath Shankar Seth was one of the founders of the School Society and Native School of Bombay. 
  • He started an English-Marathi school in Girgaum (Maharashtra).
• Bhau Daji Lad (Ram Krishna Lad): was the first Indian president of the Students’ Literary and Scientific Society.
• Jyotirao Phule and his wife Savitribai opened the first school for girls at Bhidewada, Pune, in 1848.
• Savitribai Phule taught alongside Fatima Sheikh and Sagunabai.
  • She also opened a night school.
• Alexandra Society of Parsis: It was opened in 1863, to educate Parsi girls.

• Bethune School: Founded by J.E.D. Bethune in 1849, linked to the movement for women’s education in the 1840s and 1850s, marked a significant milestone.
• With Lord Dalhousie’s backing, Charles Wood’s Despatch on Education in 1854 emphasized the importance of educating females.
• Women’s Medical Service in 1914: played a substantial role in training nurses and midwives.
• Professor D.K. Karve established the Indian Women’s University in 1916, a notable institution for women’s education. Lady Hardinge Medical College was opened in Delhi the same year.

Pioneering Women’s Organizations in India

• Arya Mahila Samaj: Founded by Pandita Ramabai Saraswati to champion women’s causes, influencing changes in the educational curriculum for Indian women, and leading to the introduction of medical education at Lady Dufferin College. 
• Ladies Social Conference (Bharat Mahila Parishad): Established by Ramabai Ranade in Bombay in 1904, a branch under the National Social Conference.
• Bharat Stree Mahamandal: Sarla Devi Chaudhurani convened the inaugural meeting of Bharat Stree Mahamandal in Allahabad in 1910, 
  • recognized as the first major Indian women’s organization initiated by a woman. 
• National Council of Women: It was established In 1925. 
  • Meherbai Tata significantly contributed to its formation, alongside notable women like Cornelia Sorabji, Tarabai Premchand, Shaffi Tyabji, and Maharani Sucharu Devi.
• All India Women’s Conference (AIWC): founded by Margaret Cousins in 1927. 
  • held its first conference at Fergusson College, Pune. 
  • It aimed to build a society based on social justice, equal rights, and opportunities for every individual, irrespective of birth or gender.
  • Founding Members: Maharani Chimnabai Gaekwad, Rani Sahiba of Sangli, Sarojini Naidu, Kamla Devi Chattopadhyaya, and Lady Dorab Tata.

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Other legislations

• Hindu Women’s Right to Property Act (1937), Factory Act (1947), Hindu Marriage and Divorce Act (1954), Special Marriage Act (1954), Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act (1956), Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act (1956), Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women Act (1958), Maternity Benefits Act (1961), Dowry Prohibition Act (1961), and Equal Remuneration Act (1958, 1976) contributed to women’s rights and empowerment.

Conclusion

• Women played pivotal roles in the social reform movements of colonial India, advocating for their rights and challenging oppressive practices.
• Through their efforts, significant strides were made towards gender equality, education, and social justice.
• Their activism continues to resonate, highlighting the importance of women’s voices in shaping India’s social fabric.

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