SOCIAL REFORMS IN ORISSA DURING THE BRITISH RULE

Superstitious Practices in Nineteenth Century Orissa

• Various superstitious practices were prevalent, including:

  • Sati (also spelled as ‘suttee’)

  • Meriah (human sacrifice)

  • Infanticide

  • Thugee (robbery and murder by organized bands)

Sati

• Definition: Sati is the practice where a widow immolates herself on her husband’s funeral pyre.

• Historical Context:

  • The origin of the Sati system in Orissa is obscure, presumed to have begun in the 12th century A.D.

  • Early reference found in Sarala Dasa's Oriya Mahabharat.

  • First recorded instance in the Princely States of Hindol, where several royal women became Sati.

• Practices Associated with Sati:

  • Common among royal families; the practice included administering opium to intoxicate the widow before burning.

  • Among the Jogi tribes, the practice involved burial alongside the husband.

  • Encouraged by Brahmins who benefitted from the widow's ornaments and zamindars who gained property from childless widows.

• British Intervention:

  • Governor-General Lord William Bentinck declared Sati illegal with a Regulation passed on December 4, 1829.

  • Subsequent enforcement faced challenges with continued occurrences in some areas, specifically Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar.

  • On January 25, 1842, two queens in Khandapara committed Sati, leading to legal action by Magistrate A.J.M. Mills, resulting in punishment for the involved parties.

  • Following this intervention, the practice largely ceased post-1842 in Orissa.

Thugee

• Definition: Derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Thugna’, meaning ‘to cheat’.

• Description:

  • Thugs engaged in organized robbery and murder, notably emerging in the feudatory states of Orissa in 1832.

  • They influenced young boys, enticing them into a life of crime with false promises of prosperity.

• British Response:

  • Colonel Sleeman played a crucial role during Lord Bentinck’s administration to curb this practice.

  • Efforts included rewards for information leading to the capture of Thugs, establishment of police outposts, and the supportive actions from local rulers.

  • By 1840, the intervention was effective; the Thugs withdrew from their criminal activities due to intensifying British pressure.

Meriah (Human Sacrifice)

• Definition: Meriah refers to the practice of human sacrifice, primarily among the tribal communities of Orissa, particularly the Khonds.

• Cultural Significance:

  • Derived from ‘Mervi’, linked to a goddess of the Khonds, indicating their agricultural motivations behind sacrifices.

• Reasons for Practice:

  • To ensure soil fertility, favorable weather, crop production, and to rid society of illnesses.

• Victim Profile:

  • Victims were typically non-Brahmins and low-caste Hindus, often poor individuals who could be kidnapped or sold.

• Ceremony Details:

  • The sacrificial rites involved extensive rituals, including the victim being treated well prior to the sacrifice and then executed in a gruesome manner.

  • Various forms of sacrifice included being tied and cut up or killed by community members during a ritual.

• British Intervention:

  • The practice was observed in 1836 by British officials during the Ghumsar uprising. G.E. Russel reported on it.

  • Efforts led by John Campbell resulted in the establishment of the Meriah Agency in 1845, where systematic efforts were made to stop the practice.

  • By 1861, significant reductions in Meriah practices were noted.

Infanticide

• Definition: The practice of infanticide, particularly female infanticide, was prevalent among certain tribal groups in Orissa.

• Social Context:

  • The birth of a girl child was often viewed negatively, especially among the Khonds, due to economic burdens related to marriage.

• Rationale Behind Infanticide:

  • Economic hardship: Bride prices imposed a financial strain on families upon the marriage of daughters.

  • Cultural beliefs: Myths about ancestral spirits and societal shame from not producing male heirs perpetuated the practice.

• Methods of Infanticide:

  • Various gruesome methods included:

  • Sealing infants in pots or vessels and burying them alive.

  • Administering opium to cause death silently.

• British Intervention:

  • The British authorities, notably under Campbell, took significant measures to combat this practice, creating fear through police surveillance.

  • By 1856, infanticide was declared largely eradicated in India.

Conclusion on Social Reforms

• The British Government's efforts resulted not only in the cessation of specific practices like Sati, Meriah, Thugee, and infanticide but also in broader social reforms such as:

  • Allowance for widow remarriage.

  • Stopping child marriages.

  • Encouragement of female education.

• Overall, these reforms had a profound impact on transforming the societal structure in Orissa during British rule.