Concubinage, Race and Law in Early Colonial Bengal - Bequeathing Intimacy, Servicing the Empire

This book analyzes the domestic relations which British men came to establish with native Indian women in early colonial Bengal. It provides a fresh look into the history of imperial expansion and colonial encounters by studying the large number of wills left by the British men who came in an official or economic capacity to India. It closely engages with these wills, considering them as unique personal records. These documents, where the men penned down details of their native mistresses, give a glimpse of what their lives, interpersonal relationships, household objects, and everyday affairs were like. The volume highlights how commonplace such non-marital cohabitation was and constructs the social history of these connections. It looks at issues of theft, violence, rape, bequeathment, and property rights which the women had to contend with, and also studies some of the early experiences of the mixed-race children who were a product of these relationships.

A unique look into the asymmetrical but fascinating history of interracial households in early colonial Bengal, this book will be of interest to students and researchers of history, women's studies, gender studies, colonial law, colonial travel writing, minority studies, colonialism, imperialism, and South Asian studies.

List of contents

1. Introduction: Reading Wills, Retrieving Native Woman, 2. Beyond The Purdah – ‘Constructing’ The Native Woman, 3. Forging Intimacies, 4. Legality – Property, violence, and discord, 5. Interracial Progeny, 6. Concluding Remarks

About the author

Ruchika Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Gargi College, University of Delhi, India.

Summary

This book analyses the domestic relations which British men came to establish with native Indian women in early colonial Bengal. It provides a fresh look into the history of imperial expansion and colonial encounters by studying the large number of wills left by British men who came in an official or economic capacity to India.

Product details

• Authors: Ruchika Sharma, Ruchika (University of Delhi Sharma, Sharma Ruchika
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 29.08.2022
• EAN: 9781032322827
• ISBN: 978-1-0-3232282-7
• No. of pages: 192
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Sociology, Asia, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Minority Studies, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Women's Studies, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Gender Studies, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Colonialism & Post-Colonialism, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Regional Studies, HISTORY / Women, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Imperialism, LAW / Gender & the Law, Colonialism & imperialism, Regional Studies, Colonialism and imperialism, Regional / International studies, Asian History, Gender studies: women, Gender studies: women and girls, HISTORY / Asia / South / General