Illbert Bill Controversy
- The controversy surrounding the Illbert Bill erupted due to prevalent racial prejudices of the time. British settlers in India especially those who are involved in businesses like tea and indigo, fiercely opposed the bill. Their resistance found support even among certain British officials.
- The propaganda played a very crucial role in shaping public opinion against the bill. False claims were also circulated asserting that Indian judges couldn’t be trusted to handle cases involving English women. This argument resonated strongly, particularly among English women in India, who believed that Bengali women lacked the knowledge and authority to judge cases involving them.
- However, supporters of the Bill, especially Begali women, countered these assertions. They highlighted the educational achievements of Indian women, emphasizing that more Indian women held academic degrees compared to British women. The University of Calcutta allowed female graduates to pursue degree programs even before British Universities which is as early as 1878.
Ilbert Bill: Meaning and Controversy
Ilbert Bill: The Ilbert Bill (1883) aimed to end racial restrictions on Indian magistrates trying European British subjects in British India, but due to strong opposition, it was amended to maintain racial distinctions in the jurisdiction.
In this article, We have discussed the What is Ilbert Bill in Detail.
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