Imatges de pàgina
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sical desire. Left entirely to itself it may grow up strong and well, but it may also be of very slow growth, and result in only a sickly and dwarfed shrub. Assisted by Government on judicious lines, the result will undoubtedly be speedier, and the growth firmer.

46. BABU SYAMA MOHUN CHUCKERBUTTY.-Education will take centuries to make the people conscious of the injurious effects of infant marriage, and to finally put a stop to them. When the evils are so great and should be speedily removed, it is but just and proper that the legislature should interfere, and frame such a law as will meet the desired end.

47. BABU HORI MOHUN CHANDRA.-Some of my country men are of opinion that, direct legislative action should be taken in the matter, and it appears to me that such a course would be quite consistent with the Institutes of Manu.......

The question is not whether it (Infant Marriage) is a religious ceremony or a social usage-though it is undoubtedly more of the latter than the former, but is the custom an outrage on humanity? Is it productive of great evils in the community? Is it in short contrary to sound reason and morality? If so the Government should be true to its pledge as parent, and protector of society, and fall back on the wise and statesmanlike minute of the Marquis of Wellesley "that it is one of the fundamental maxims of the British Government to consult the opinions, customs, and prejudices of the natives, but only when they are consistent with the principles of humanity, morality and reason."

The objection on the score of religion would probably never he heard of, if our Government were a Hindu Government.

An Act might be passed making education of males compulsory up to a certain age, varying according to the social grades of the pupils, and prohibiting marriage until their education is finished, exception being made in cases in which the Municipal, District, Local or Union Board certifies that to

fulfil the complete period of studentship would entail difficulties on the individuals or their families.

48. INDIAN ASSOCIATION.-The Committee, after giving their best consideration, find that they can safely make one practical suggestion for discouraging infant marriages. The educational authorities can pass a rule declaring married students ineligible for senior and lower scholarships, a senior scholarship once obtained not being liable to forfeiture by subsequent marriage.

49. UTTERPAKAH PEOPLE'S ASSOCIATION.-Approve three of Mr. Malabari's suggestions viz (1) the formation of voluntary associations of graduates &c., (2) the introduction of chapters describing the evils of early marriage in school text books, and (3) his scheme of a national association.

50. RAJ SHAHYE ASSOCIATION-It is desirable that the practice of selling girls under the name of marriage to the highest bidder, irrespective of all consideration of suitableness of the match, should be put a stop to by Government.

51. MYMENSING ASSOCIATION.-Approve of Mr. Malabari's suggestions regarding giving greater publicity to the Remarriage Act, and regarding the formation of a national association.

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52. TIPPERAH PEOPLE'S ASSOCIATION.--Recommend rule to the effect that unmarried students only shall be eligible for Government scholarships.

53. BALASORE NATIONAL SOCIETY.-The society approve of the recommendation that the money received from the bridegroom-the price of the girl disposed of is not to belong to the seller, the parent or relation of the victim, but to be safely deposited in her name and for her exclusive use.

54. KUMAR PRAMATHA BHUSHANA DEVA, RAJA OF NALDANGA. The practice of selling girls, regarded equally by the Shastras and the respectable Hindu Community as a despicable action, may very well be put a check to, by ruling.....

that the money received from the bridegroom is not to belong to the seller but to the girl.

55. BABU MENULAL CHATTERJEE.-Though Kulinism is on the decline, yet few marriages in Bengal take place, without imposing on the father of the bride a heavy fine for the sin of giving birth to daughters. Many a wealthy family in Bengal, which occupied once a conspicuous position in the front rank of society, and which was in fact the pride of the country, has by the mere accident of birth of daughters, been ruined and reduced to pauperism in consequence of their expensive marriages and the incidents which follow them The three superior forms of marriage contemplate a gift of the bride only, and nothing more than a declaration of the legislature that demands other than the gift of the bride will be illegal and treated as extortion and will not be countenanced by a Court of Justice, will materially help in checking the evil. There is room for legislation without offending the Shastras.

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The demands of a father or other guardian of a bridegroom are very heavy, and comprise so many items that, on calculation, it is found to cover nearly all the costs incurred for the boy, commencing from the separation of the umbilical cord and ending with the last pice paid, up to the date of his marriage. These items or abwabs of the marriage are politely called respects for the family of the father of the bridegroom. This demand increases with the age of the bride. There are cases in which great difficulties are encountered in disposing of an aged daughter or sister.

Already cases are coming to courts for adjudication as to the legality of pon or price for the promised marriage, and such like matters. The highest court in the country is unable to put down attempts to make advantage of these contracts. It entertained doubts in decreeing a restoration of the pon even where the marriage broke off (I. L. R. 10¿Cal. 1054.) In the absence of a prohibitory law, the Judges summarily regarded the custom of the country, and enforced a contract in every

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respect opposed to public policy...... .....Matters have practically come to this pass that, secret contracts made with parents or other guardians whereby upon a treaty of marriage they are to receive a compensation or security for promoting a marriage or giving their consent to it, are passed under the guise of gifts or stridhan.......

A Hindu Marriage Act would, like the Suttee Act of Lord William Bentinck, be productive of incalculable boon to the country, which will be treasured up in the memory of all the children of the soil as a precious monument of the benign rule of Her Gracious Majesty the Empress of India..................... Were the 12th year declared as the marriageable age of females, and all marriages under that age null and void by applying the principle of XIV. W.R. 403, the country would undoubtedly see the dawning of a better day.....

As it is in contemplation to make over registration of deeds and assurances to the Postal Deparment, and as Post offices are within an accessible distance, there could be no difficulty in procuring the attendance of a public officer to witness the marriage, and to take an inventory and enter in a register then and there, signed by the guardians of the married couple when both are infants.

SECTION IV. NORTH-WEST PROVINCES AND OUDH, THE PUNJAB, CENTRAL PROVINCES, BURMA, ASSAM, COORG, HYDRABAD

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(DECCAN.) &c.

56. C. R. HAWKINS, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, AMRITSAR. I should consider that the state should only show disapproval of such customs (as infant marriage.)-One means of showing this disapproval seems thoroughly practical and inoffensive. The State has certainly a right to prescribe the conditions on which any grant of money is made. Celibacy might be made a condition of all scholarships held by youths

under a certain age. Such a condition would be soon widely known, and specially tend to influence the rising generation. Any measure of this sort would be useful and unobjectionable.

The patronage of the State might be usefully given to societies (for the discouragement of early marriages and encouragement of the marriages of widows.)

57. HONOURABLE D. G. BARKLEY, MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, PUNJAB GOVERNMENT.-Several suggestions are made as to modes in which the State might indirectly show its disapproval of infant marriages. The only one of those which does not seem to involve undue interference with a practice which it is not expedient to prohibit by law is that, the Educational Department might draw attention to the evil in its school books. This would be simply assisting in educating public opinion on the subject, and if care were taken to introduce it in a way suitable for school books intended for children who can do nothing themselves to remove the evil until they come to maturer years, it would probably be unobjectionable....

With reference to education of public opinion, Mr. Malabari seems to think that this must be confined to the small proportion of the population who have received elementary education. But this is not necessarily the case. After the annexation of the Punjab, much was done to create a public opinion opposed to female infanticide, by public meetings and conferences between leading men. The difficulties to be overcome were thus brought to notice, and efforts were made to remove these difficulties. Many of these arose from marriage customs, such as the feeling that a girl must be married into a superior sub-division of her caste, and in the case of Bedis, descended from the Guru Nanik, the absence of any caste accustumed to receive Bedi girls in marriage, as they had long ceased to be given in marriage. Agreements were come to with a view to reduce or remove these difficulties, and there is no doubt that amongst the Khatris a considerable reform was

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