Which European traveller had observed, "A Hindu woman can go anywhere alone, even in the most crowded places, and she need never fear the impertinent looks and jokes of idle loungers"?

The observation that a Hindu woman can travel alone in crowded places without fear of harassment was made by the French missionary Abbe J.A. Dubois [1]. Dubois, also known as Jean-Antoine Dubois, was a member of the 'Missions Etrangères de Paris' and spent over thirty years in India during the late 18th and early 19th centuries [1]. His seminal work, 'Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies', provides a detailed account of Indian socio-religious life during the decline of Indian powers and the rise of British influence [1]. In this text, he frequently commented on the safety and respect afforded to women in public spaces, contrasting it with European perceptions [1]. While other travellers like Francois Bernier and Jean-Baptiste Tavernier documented the Mughal era, Dubois's observations are specifically noted for their focus on the social etiquette and customs of the Hindu population [1].

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 1: Sources for the History of Modern India > Biographies, Memoirs and Travel Accounts > p. 7