Which 19th-century act legalized the remarriage of Hindu widows?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Solution: The correct answer is Hindu Widow's Remarriage Act 1856.
Explanation:
☛ The Hindu Widow's Remarriage Act 1856 (Act XV of 1856) legalized the remarriage of Hindu widows in all jurisdictions of the East India Company.
☛ This historic legislation was drafted during the tenure of Lord Dalhousie and officially enacted by Lord Canning on 26 July 1856.
☛ Eminent social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar played a pioneering role by petitioning the government and quoting ancient Hindu texts to prove that widow remarriage was sanctioned by the Shastras.
☛ The act not only legalized remarriages but also declared the children of such marriages to be legitimate heirs to property.
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ The first legal widow remarriage under this Act was solemnized in Kolkata on 7 December 1856 under the supervision of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
☛ Sati Regulation Act (1829): Passed by Lord William Bentinck, it declared the practice of Sati illegal and punishable through Regulation XVII.
☛ Caste Disabilities Removal Act (1850): Abolished laws that impaired the property rights of individuals who renounced or converted from their religion.
☛ Age of Consent Act 1891: Enacted under the efforts of Behramji Malabari, it raised the minimum age of consent for girls from 10 to 12 years.
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Who was the Governor-General when the Hindu Widow's Remarriage Act was passed? → Lord Canning
☛ Which journal was founded by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in 1858 to promote social reforms? → Som Prakash
☛ In which year was the first Widow Remarriage Association established by Vishnu Shastri Pandit in Maharashtra? → 1861
☛ Who opened the first school for Hindu widows in Pune in 1899? → Dhondo Keshav Karve
☛ Which reformer founded the Rajahmundry Social Reform Association in 1878 to promote widow remarriage in Andhra? → Kandukuri Veeresalingam