ABSTRACT
I argue that the compulsion to know the precise chronological age of persons is a modern one. It first appeared in the early 19th century, when the colonial state began to record the circumstances of widows who practised the sacred ritual of sati or burning or burying themselves along with the corpse of their husband. It turned out that a fair number were mere children. Somewhat perturbed, the state asked Brahman religious scholars if the immolation of child widows was sanctioned by scripture. Their question started an enquiry into what constitutes infancy, childhood, and maturity for women.
My chapter is in two parts: The first part briefly touches on female childhood in the pre-colonial cultural traditions in Bengal, and the second part tracks its legal makings in widow immolation (sati) debates in early colonial times.
