DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0517
Modem Theism. Rammohun Roys successors. 507
1870, and a female Normal and Adult School was opened
in 1871.
The most important Reform of all—that relating to mar-
riage—to which Mr. Sen's efforts had already been directed,
had not made much progress. The example so well set by
the marriage of Debendra-nath Tagore's daughter in 1861 had
created hopes of a better state of things, but little real advance
had been achieved. It is true that similar marriages had fol-
lowed, but the legality of such marriages was disputed, though
a form of ritual had been adopted which was thought to be
sufficiently conformable to Hindu usage to insure their va-
lidity. It was not encouraging that between 1864 and 1867
only seven or eight Adi Samaj Brahma marriages and four or
five Progressive Brahma intermarriages between persons of
different castes had been solemnized. Nor had much success
attended the attempt to prevent early marriages. Mr. Sen
and his followers now threw themselves more vigorously than
ever into the marriage-reform movement. The best medical
opinions were sought, and the proper marriageable age fixed.
But the most important step was to memorialize the Govern-
ment for a new Marriage Act, to relieve Brahmas from their
disability to contract legal marriages according to their own
forms. Much agitation ensued. The native mind became
greatly excited, and Indian society was stirred to its depths
by a conflict of opinion on a matter which affected the very
framework of. its whole structure and composition.
At length a Bill was drawn up by Sir Henry Maine, and
improved upon by his successor Mr. Stephen (now Sir Fitz-
james Stephen, the Judge), which pleased no one. It was
violently opposed not only by the orthodox Brahmans, but
by the more conservative Theists. The struggle was pro-
tracted with much bitterness on the part of the natives for
four years. Finally, after many ineffectual attempts at ob-
taining a general agreement of opinion, a third Bill was
elaborated by Mr. Stephen, and under his able management
1870, and a female Normal and Adult School was opened
in 1871.
The most important Reform of all—that relating to mar-
riage—to which Mr. Sen's efforts had already been directed,
had not made much progress. The example so well set by
the marriage of Debendra-nath Tagore's daughter in 1861 had
created hopes of a better state of things, but little real advance
had been achieved. It is true that similar marriages had fol-
lowed, but the legality of such marriages was disputed, though
a form of ritual had been adopted which was thought to be
sufficiently conformable to Hindu usage to insure their va-
lidity. It was not encouraging that between 1864 and 1867
only seven or eight Adi Samaj Brahma marriages and four or
five Progressive Brahma intermarriages between persons of
different castes had been solemnized. Nor had much success
attended the attempt to prevent early marriages. Mr. Sen
and his followers now threw themselves more vigorously than
ever into the marriage-reform movement. The best medical
opinions were sought, and the proper marriageable age fixed.
But the most important step was to memorialize the Govern-
ment for a new Marriage Act, to relieve Brahmas from their
disability to contract legal marriages according to their own
forms. Much agitation ensued. The native mind became
greatly excited, and Indian society was stirred to its depths
by a conflict of opinion on a matter which affected the very
framework of. its whole structure and composition.
At length a Bill was drawn up by Sir Henry Maine, and
improved upon by his successor Mr. Stephen (now Sir Fitz-
james Stephen, the Judge), which pleased no one. It was
violently opposed not only by the orthodox Brahmans, but
by the more conservative Theists. The struggle was pro-
tracted with much bitterness on the part of the natives for
four years. Finally, after many ineffectual attempts at ob-
taining a general agreement of opinion, a third Bill was
elaborated by Mr. Stephen, and under his able management