SAKHI SAMITI : AN WOMEN'S ORGANISATION OF THE LATE NINETEENTH CENTURTY

BENGAL
Author(s): GOUTAM NEOGI
Source: Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Vol. 56 (1995), pp. 758-759
Published by: Indian History Congress
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/44158713
Accessed: 25-06-2019 14:29 UTC

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 758 PROCEEDINGS. IHC : 56TH SESSION. 1995

FUNCTION AND POWER OF THE DALOI IN THE

TEMPLES OF KAMRUP (ASSAM) UPTO 1961 A.D.
GAJENDRA ADHIKARY (LM 00004)

Under District
Districtthe of Pre-British
of Assam) Assam) were Administration,
were treated treatedasas Government
Government the temples Institutions
Institutions of Kamrupand
and (a
the Daloi was the Chief of the Bardeoris (Priest) in the temples of
Kamrup. The origin of the term Daloi and its status in respect of
temple management can not be determined with any Certainty.
However, from the days of the Ahom rule in Kamrup (1682-1826),
some duties regarding the daily and regular worship of the respec-
tive deities of a temple as well as of the management of the temple
properties were entrusted upon the Daloi. These are recorded in a
number of copper plate Grants issued by the Ahom and Mughal
rulers.

Consequently the British Occupation of -Assam, numerous dis-

putes regarding the power and function of the Daloi took place
among the temple servitors. As a result, temple building faced a
ruin daily and regular services were neglected and often the daily
worship of the respective dieties ceased for a week. These disputes
led to the institution of a number of litigation in different courts of
Law under the British administration. Such type of litigations con-
tinuted even in the pošt independence period, i.e. till 1961 A.D. As
a result, the Government dues from the landed properties belonging
to the temples were not deposited in the Government treasury.
Finding no way to settle this long standing problem, the Govern-
ment of Assam enacted the Assam Act. IX of 1961, by which all the
landed properties were acquired by the Government and the post of
Daloi was abolished. It was provided in this Act. that managing
Committee under the presidentship of the Deputy Commissioner (S)
would manage the temple affairs.
Thus, the power and functions so enjoyed and rendered by the
Daloi centuries together were declared illegal and the temple
management system in Kamrup ás well as of Assam underwent
drastic change.
$

SAKHI SAMITI : AN WOMEN'S ORGANISATION OF THE

LATE NINETEENTH CENTURTY BENGAL

GOUT AM NEOGI (LM 00412)

An activities attempt
activities of hasorganisation
of a social a social beenof made organisation
the Bengalee women.in Itthis
waspaper of the to Bengalee discuss women. the ideas It was and

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 MODERN INDIA 759

founded by women and also f

important place in women's
the organisation was "Sakhi
by Swarnakumari Debi in 188
Integral to the intellectual q
the emergent educated midd
was the issue of women's liberation. The articulation of conscious-
ness about women's emancipation was expressed through variou
social reform movements. Many associations came into being f
social ameioration of women. But these movements or associations
were led by male leaders upto the last quarter of the century.
The quest for women's emancipation by male leaders remaine
by and large, within the limits of the influence of patriarchal
ogy which sought ot keep women confinded within the dome
space. How was the creation of public space possible and when d
women become conscious to come forward to uplift their own p
tion, though very interesting, remains largely untold, notwiths
ing extensive literature on the so-called 'Bengal Renaissance'. T
main purpose of the present paper is to fill in this gap, to so
extent, examining the aims, activities and impact of a socio-cul
organisation of women in the late 19th centuiy Bengal.
The paper is based on primary sources, including contempor
newspapers and periodicals and writings of women themselves
other secondary sources have also been fully utilised.
$

CHRIST AND CHRISTIANITY RECONSIDERED : KESHAB

CHANDRA SEN AND THE BRAHMO SAMAJ OF INDIA

ARUNDHATI NEOGI (LM 0041 1)

A personality
personality
somewhat
of Keshab
obviousChandra
of Keshab
Sen,yettheChandra
eminentcrucially
socio religious
Sen, important the eminent aspect socio of the religious role and
reformer has not been adequately emphasized in the literature of
nineteenth century Bengal. This is his attitude towards Christ and
Christianity and its impact on the ongoing socio- religious reform
movements. The present paper seeks to highlight this aspect of
Keshab's life.

In the period under review a vivid interest in the Hindu religi

heritage, its reform from the shackles of superstition and dog
and an ideal of social uplift was very much a part of the Bengali

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