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With reference to the Age of Consent Act, 1891 consider the following statements :
1. It was Behramji Malabari, a Parsi reformer from Bombay, who advocated for this legislation.
2. The Act was supported by the extremist wing led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: Behramji Malabari, a Parsi social reformer and journalist, was the chief advocate for the Age of Consent Act, 1891. His 1884 'Notes on Infant Marriage and Enforced Widowhood' and subsequent campaigns highlighted the physical and social trauma of child marriage, leading the British government to raise the age of consent for girls from 10 to 12 years.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Act was strongly opposed by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and the orthodox sections. Tilak viewed the legislation as an unwarranted interference by a foreign colonial government into Hindu religious and social customs. He argued that social reforms should emerge from within the community through education and internal consensus rather than being imposed by the British.