The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c6.79

c6.79

We have seen above that the literacy among Hindu women had reached its nadir by about 1850 a.d. Subsequent to the assumption of the Indian administration by the British Crown, Government began to take some steps for the promotion of education among girls. Progress during the first forty years was very very slow. By the end of the last century, however, public opinion also began to support its cause, mainly owing to its vigorous championship by the school of social reform. Not much progress, however, was made for a long time, primarily because girls were married at the age of 9 or 10. Their education could thus continue only for three or four years, as it had to be suspended after marriage. The terrible havoc caused by the plague at the beginning of the present century tended to raise the marriageable age of girls to 12 or 13. Among the educated middle classes in cities it has now advanced to 16 or 17, chiefly owing to the influence of economic factors. In 1930, a legislation was also passed fixing 14 as the minimum age for the marriage of girls.