Women and Health Care System in Darjeeling & Jalpaiguri during 19th And 20th Century

Abstract

Health itself is a very broad aspect that cannot be defined within a certain periphery and women and their health care system in Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri in the 19th and 20th centuries is certainly a challenging one. Locationally, strategically, and climate both the district lies in different situations but common diseases were spread in large areas. Most of the indigenous people were used to the indigenous treatment in the absence of modern facilities. Thus, the British used to utter the advancement of Western medicine to justify the British rule in India. As women were in a weaker position so British used to uphold their situation by introducing different programs with great enthusiasm not just to show their kindness to the indigenous women but to prove the advancement of Western medicines. They focused on female education, sanitation, nursing courses for females, etc. which all helped to reduce the death rate of infantry.