Social Evils Among Women In Jammu And Kashmir During Dogra Period And Colonialism And Reforms(1846-1925)

The antiquities of Jammu and Kashmir reveal that women might have enjoyed a high status as elsewhere in India. But ,there was a marked deterioration in the position of women. Female children were not much desired and their sufferings became endless with the beginning of inroads of Turko-Afghan tribes for whom carrying away of women formed the prized item of booty. This situation gave new dimensions to the social customs of Sati and Female Infanticide. With passage of time, other social evils like ban on widow remarriage, traffic in women, prostitution and others too started to culminate among women of Jammu and Kashmir State. Lawrence, a political agent to governor-general, N.W.F.P directed Maharaja Gulab Singh, the first ruler of Jammu and Kashmir State to abolish the inhuman practices of Sati and Female Infanticide from his domain. Since his administration demanded strengthening of other regulatory functions, he was not able to take concrete steps. These evils continued till 1900s till Maharaja Hari Singh made reforms in this sphere. The Dogra rulers displayed unparallel humanitarian zeal in striking at different evils that ultimately improved the quality of woman in the State.