Who among the following opposed raising the minimum age of marriage fo...
Opposition to raising the minimum age of marriage for girls
Among the given options, Bal Gangadhar Tilak opposed raising the minimum age of marriage for girls from 10 to 12 years as embodied in the Age of Consent Act, 1891.
Explanation
The Age of Consent Act, 1891 was a landmark legislation in British India that sought to raise the minimum age of marriage for girls from 10 to 12 years. This act was introduced in response to social reform movements that aimed to address the issue of child marriage and protect the rights of young girls.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak's opposition
Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a prominent leader of the Indian independence movement and one of the key figures in the Indian National Congress, opposed raising the minimum age of marriage for girls. His opposition was rooted in his conservative views on social and cultural practices.
Conservative stance
Tilak believed in preserving traditional Indian customs and traditions, including the practice of child marriage. He argued that imposing a higher age of consent would interfere with the religious and cultural practices of the Hindu society. Tilak believed that the British government should not interfere in matters that were considered deeply ingrained in Indian society.
Role in the Indian National Congress
Despite his opposition to the Age of Consent Act, Tilak was an influential member of the Indian National Congress. However, his views on social issues, including his stance on child marriage, were not shared by all members of the Congress. Many Congress leaders, including Mahadev Govind Ranade, were proponents of social reform and supported raising the minimum age of marriage for girls.
Legacy
Tilak's opposition to raising the minimum age of marriage for girls highlights the complex and diverse opinions within the Indian independence movement. While Tilak was a staunch nationalist and played a significant role in the struggle for independence, his conservative views on social issues like child marriage have been criticized in the modern context.
In conclusion, Bal Gangadhar Tilak opposed raising the minimum age of marriage for girls from 10 to 12 years as embodied in the Age of Consent Act, 1891 due to his conservative views on social and cultural practices.