Women in British Garhwal

British Administration in Garhwal   -161

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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -181

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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -1013

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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

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            The woman was important asset for agriculture works and pasturing works. Womn was also useful for kitchen works that was not possible by Harijan or Shilpkar. Becket reported that she was capable of working for 60 years and used to produce up to 50 years. Women were not allowed plowing.

 The following population figures confirm that there was shortage of women in Garhwal –

 Year ---------------------Male Pop------------------------Female Population

1841-------------------------71534---------------------------60882

1853--------------------------- 120027------------------------113299

 That was why there was a custom of Takka marriage or offering money to bride’s father by groom’s family and without marriage procession and rituals. ‘Kanyadan was custom in upper caste and prosperous Thakur.  Prosperous man had many wives. Wives were there for works. In case of death of elder brother, younger brother used to marry /keep his Bhauj.  Far devar were ready for keeping widow Bhauj (elder brother’s wife). There was demand for ‘Dhanti female (thrown out of family). Marrying with widow Bhauj or Dhanti was very useful in remaking of barren land useful for agriculture.

  Many widows had land but there were no males for them in family. For solving such problems, women started keeping ‘husband’.

            More the children was sign of prosperity because children were useful for agriculture works. If any mn married with married women the new husband hd to pay money to ex-husband. 

   

   

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References  

1-Shiv Prasad Dabral ‘Charan’, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Part -7 Garhwal par British -Shasan, part -1, page- 343-44 from Vishnu Singh Gorla Rawat collection

2-Joshi, Khas Family law

3- Paw- Garhwal Settlement page 44

4-Becket, Garhwal resettlement report - 29

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Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India,bjkukreti@gmail.com 17/8/201710History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -1014

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*** History of British Rule/Administration over British Garhwal (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli1815-1947) to be continued in next chapter

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(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

Forest settlement , History of British Rule, Administration , Policies, Revenue system,  over Garhwal, Kumaon, Uttarakhand ; Forest settlement , History of British Rule , Administration , Policies Revenue system  over Pauri Garhwal, Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Chamoli Garhwal, Nainital Kumaon, Uttarakhand; Forest settlement ,  History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Rudraprayag Garhwal, Almora Kumaon, Uttarakhand; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies ,Revenue system  over Dehradun , Champawat Kumaon, Uttarakhand ; History of British Rule, Administration, Policies, ,Revenue system  over Bageshwar  Kumaon, Uttarakhand ; Patwari , Civil Police History of British Rule, Forest settlement,  Administration, Policies, Revenue system over Haridwar, Pithoragarh Kumaon, Uttarakhand;