Special Mom’s blog

The night is coming to an end and when it dawns it is International Women’s Day and the clocks in this part of the world spring sforward! I am on a road trip, and too many things are happening around for me to make one particular blog.

I am copying a part of a blog I wrote four years ago for this women’day 2026!

When I was young my grandparents used to tell stories about how young their sisters were (8 or 9) when they got married. My paternal grandmother due to some issues got married only when she was 19 and that was considered a very late marriage. My grandfather told me that one of his sister’s marriage was held in secret due to a child marriage act. I remembered the name of the act very well and so I googled it only today. The act fixed the marriageable age for girls at 14 years and 18 years for boys. It is popularly known as the Sharda Act after its sponsor, Harbilas Sarda. In 1949, after India’s independence, the minimum age was increased to 15 for females, and in 1978, it was increased again for both females and males, to 18 and 21 years, respectively. My maternal grandmother who got married in 1950 was 13 at the time of marriage, so yes even after independence child marriages did happen.

But women have come a long way in our family. None of my family were married young since then. Girls have been given good education and have held jobs equal to the men in the household.

Happy International Women’s Day! By the way I am not a fan of these particular day celebrations! But just going with a crowd who keep sharing the International Women’s Day Wishes 😊!