Women empowerment and saving the girlchild are measures not only undertaken in the present times. Even Mughal emperor Jehangir besides the British undertook measures to save the girl child back and empower women back in 16th to 18th century.
Records at the Regional Archives in Prayagraj not only inform female infanticide being forbidden during the rule of Mughal Emperor Jehangir but also the extensive measure undertken by the British in 18th century to check killing of the girlchild.
The British undertook the first ever recorded conviction to check female infanticide in the country in 1841 against a man accused of the crime in Prayagraj (them Allahabad), show documents preserved in Prayagraj Regional Archive.
The records show that the second and the third convictions for similar crimes were also undertaken by the British in 1842 and 44 in Agra.
As per an official report prepared by the Office of Governor, North-West Province (NWP), post forbidding of female infanticide by Moghul Emperor Jahangir, the practice again became prevalent close to 18th century, especially in the eastern districts of (NWP), owing to several social factors. Taking cognizance of the same the British introduced the first legislation (Regulation of XXI of 1975) to stop the practice followed by another legislation in 1801.
However, mentions a British period document of NWP titled ‘The important dates of the measures taken to suppress it’, when the legislations failed to check the evil practice, ‘British administrator Robert Montgomerry started repressive measures in Allahabad in 1841. Two other convictions of murder were made in Agra in 1842 and 1844.’
Further, owing to social awakening due to measures taken by British, revealed the document, ‘the Raja of Mainpuri preserved the life of a daughter, the first in many years in 1815. Measures were also undertaken in Mainpuri in 1843-44.’
Further, other measures as per the document include, ‘Raikes held great meetings in Mainpuri, at which Rajputs signed agreement to preserve their daughters in 1851, Government drew attention of all District Officers to the subject in 1854, Moore appointed infanticide Commissioner in 1855 and a draft foran Act to check infanticide prepared in 1856.’
However, ‘after Moore was killed in Mutiny in Mirzapur in 1857, nothing was apparently done for a long time and the measures were reintroduced in Allahabad in 1864, reminder was sent to the Government of India and present statute was passed as Female Infanticide Act VIII in 1870.’
Also, during the 1882 census carried, the British, a special column for assessing number of girls in different parts of India was made besides in 1910, a report was prepared and sent to England regarding number of girl students enrolled in schools of each district in the North West Province.
A report prepared about the practice in Rajput community by HMR Hopkins of Police department in 1870 mentioned ‘Matches are difficult to be obtained and attended with great expense which they can ill bear, and are almost certain to cause the alienation of the whole, or of a great part, of their hereditary lands. Hence the birth of the daughter is considered a most serious calamity, and the unfortunate infant is very seldom spared,’
The British Government under the Infanticide rules took extra precautions in an event of birth of a girl child. As per the rules, ‘In the event of the child born being a girl, the officer in-charge of the police station, or an officer of a grade not lower than Head Constable, shall proceed as soon as possible after the birth to the village, shall call for and see the child and warn the father not to neglect it. The inspection shall be repeated as opportunity may occur.’