This story is from June 26, 2015

‘Sayajirao was against kids marrying at tender age’

Sayajirao’s efforts towards women’s upliftment and education in erstwhile Baroda state have been encapsulated for the first time in a book that will be released on Saturday in the city.
‘Sayajirao was against kids marrying at tender age’
VADODARA: How many of us know that Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III was against marrying children at tender age and passed laws to increase marriage age in early 20th century? Sayajirao’s efforts towards women’s upliftment and education in erstwhile Baroda state have been encapsulated for the first time in a book that will be released on Saturday in the city.
The book written by Maharaja Fatehsingrao Museum curator, Manda Hingurao deals with the visionary king’s attempts to educate women and empower them in society.
Titled ‘Maharaja Sayajirao and Stree Shikshan’ translated from English to Marathi language by Sushma Karogal will be released by Rajmata Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad at Kirti Mandir.
“Sayajirao increased the marriage age from 8 years to 10 years for girls and from 10 to 12 years for boys. He later increased the marriage age to 12 for girls and 14 for boys and it was done by convincing the parents about disadvantages of marrying at young age for girls. If anyone was caught marrying off girls below the prescribed age, penalty was imposed on them and the money was used for betterment of education system in Baroda state,” Hingurao told TOI.
She said that Sayajirao wrote in 1885 that he will devote himself for women’s education and upliftment, and he lived up to his words. “In 1906, Maharaja Sayajirao made education free and compulsory for girls even before anyone in India could think of it. He followed it up by starting library movement in 1910 to improve reading habits of both boys and girls. He even educated his wife Chimnabai who later went on to become first chairperson of All India Women’s Conference in 1910,” Hingurao said.
She said that she wrote the book to bring out the king’s dedication towards women’s empowerment at a time when few had even thought about it. “He believed that women can be empowered through education,” Hingurao said.
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Tushar Tere

Tushar Tere is an assistant editor. He writes on a range of subjects including crime, politics, sports, court, art, culture and heritage.

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