Author:

Koyel Raha
Independent Research Scholar
University of North Bengal
Darjeeling,West Bengal,India

Email: rahakoyel29@gmail.com

Abstract:: This article examines the transformation of childbirth practices in colonial Bengal through the lens of caste, focusing on the marginalization of traditional birth attendants known as Dais. It argues that the medicalization of childbirth was not merely a scientific or humanitarian intervention but a socially embedded process shaped by caste hierarchies and middle-class identity formation. By analyzing colonial discourse, reformist writings, and the emergence of professional midwifery, the study demonstrates how the language of sanitation and modernity was mobilized to delegitimize lower-caste knowledge systems while consolidating control over women’s bodies within institutional and upper-caste frameworks. The article highlights both the persistence and the reconfiguration of Dais’ roles, revealing the complex interplay between caste, gender, and colonial power.

Key Words:: Caste,Colonial Bengal, medicalization, midwifery, subaltern studies etc.