________________
JAINA GAZETTE.
97
an enormous sacrifice is also incurred in the loss of maternal and infant life. Deaths under 5 years
| Between the years 15—20, for
India. Eng. ! 1.000 males 1,23+ females Males
128.2 61.5 died, between 1905-10, in Females 112.3 51.9 ! Madras Presidency.
If you feel inclined to dip into the Census Report of 1911 on the subject, you will read :
The evil effects on the female constitution are well-known and have been cited in other countries also as the main reason for a deficiency of women. Amongst certain Australian tribes, for example, the great excess of males has been attributed not to the paucity of females born, but to the far greater mortality amongst them after puberty, on account of their too early inarriage. The Baroda Census Superintendent of 1901 (himself an Indian) speaking of the hard lot of child-wives says Nervous debility, consumption and uterine diseases create a havoc among them.'
The deficiency in the proportions of the sexes in the age period between 10 and 15 is very marked due to (1) understateinent of ages of those who have attained puberty but are still unmarried ; (2) exaggeration of the age of young mothers ; (3) higher mortality among young married women than among males of the same age.
Of all ages for 1,000 males there are 1,033 females. Between 10—15, for 1,000 males there are 922 females.
Between 15—20, for 1,000 males there are 986 females. After twenty-five, now-a-days very few Brahmin wives become pregnant. They beget children between 13 and 25. The fifth act of the tragedy coinmences when the housewife is free from the labours of productivity. This is the time when she begins to enjoy life, exercise power. This is also the time when the householder's multiplied cares begin to tell upon his weakened nerves. In his work, unable to compete witla younger men, be smarts under the remarks of his superiors. His first child, often a daughter, is ten years old and no suitable
bridegroom is available. If a son, the Upanayana ceremony alono Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
