Bengali Reformer’s Discourse on Upper Caste Polygamy Offers Insights into Legal Pluralism

In the tract titled “Against High-Caste Polygamy,” Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar embarks on a quest for reformation within traditional norms while endorsing a vision that upholds reverence for religious diversity. Amidst the ongoing discussions about the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code, championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under Directive Principle 44 of the Constitution, questions arise about its true intent and its potential to foster a secular legal environment in a nation as diverse as India.

Critics have promptly highlighted the possibility that the prime minister’s push for the Uniform Civil Code might be influenced more by political motives than a genuine commitment to secular ideals. Some assert that the Bharatiya Janata Party could be willing to exploit the customs of minority communities, such as Muslims, to further their own electoral interests. When Modi evokes public aversion towards practices like triple talaq or polygamy, it raises concerns about whether such actions perpetuate harmful stereotypes.

Such critiques cannot be easily disregarded, especially when a party dedicated to the supremacy of Hindutva employs the practices of one community as political weapons. However, amidst these debates, women from diverse religious backgrounds have consistently sought substantial advancements towards laws that eliminate gender bias and empower women across India.

While some acknowledge the appeal of a Uniform Civil Code in this context, they emphasize the need for careful execution, acknowledging that enacting laws to ban practices like polygamy without proper implementation might inadvertently harm women in polygamous Muslim marriages.In the quest for progress, there exist alternatives to a uniform legal code. Legal advocates like Flavia Agnes argue that true advancement lies in internal reforms within specific communities to eliminate gender discrimination. They express confidence in the emergence of such progress within Muslim leadership circles.

These discussions remind me of a recent translation I completed, which delves into a colonial-era critique of Kulin polygamy prevalent in Bengal. According to Vidyasagar’s analysis, Kulinism had deteriorated into a transactional enterprise, with women being exchanged for material wealth in the ruthless pursuit of status elevation among upwardly mobile families.As India grapples with the intricacies of legal reform and the complexities of cultural diversity, Vidyasagar’s historical critique serves as a reminder that introspection and transformation from within various communities can hold the key to genuine progress, ultimately leading to a more equitable society.