RUKHMABAI CASE & THE GENESIS OF SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION IN TWENTIETH-CENTURY INDIA
Keywords:
Rukhmabai Case, Restitution of Conjugal Rights (RCR), Social Transformation, Indivisual AgencyAbstract
This paper argues that the significance of the Rukhmabai case extends far beyond its nineteenth-century origins. It functioned as a catalyst for the social transformations of the twentieth century, providing the conceptual and legal vocabulary for the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929 and the post-independence Hindu Marriage Act of 1955. Furthermore, Rukhmabai’s subsequent career as a medical practitioner in Surat and Rajkot established a new model of professional female agency, demonstrating how the struggle for legal autonomy could be translated into societal influence. By weaving together legal analysis, sociological context, and professional biography, this study highlights the case's enduring legacy as a cornerstone of Indian feminism and legal reform.
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References
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