Kuri-mar

Kuri-mar (or Kudi-mar) is a Punjabi phrase which literally means "girl killer". It may refer to the practice of female infanticide which existed prior to 19th century in parts of India. The practice was banned by Guru Govind Singh around 1699 and he prohibited his followers from associating with its practitioners. Later, various rehat-namas including the Sikh Rehat Maryada prohibited the practice. Today, the term also encompasses female foeticide and may refer to North-western regions of India which have skewed gender ratios.

Overview

According to W. H. McLeod, prior to 19th century female infanticide was practiced by some Sikh sects. The British had attempted to stop the practice. The midwives used to be instructed to kill a baby if she was a girl. The typical methods were to choke it on placental blood, strangulation, poisoning with akk da doodh (Calotropis procera) or burying alive. This practice was prevalent in the Bedi clan who had high social status. This practice arose from the tradition of hypergamy, that daughters must marry into a higher got. The Bedi clan being at the top killed their daughters and focused on raising sons, who could marry women from lower gots. Later, various rehat-namas including the Sikh Rehat Maryada prohibited the practice.

In 1699, Guru Govind Singh, while baptizing, had prohibited the new followers from marrying, eating or sitting with five clans or sects. The clans or sects were - Mina D'hirmal, the descendants of Pirthi Mal who tried to poison Guru Arjun, Musandia, who proclaimed themselves gurus and followed heterodox doctrines, Ram Rayi, the descendants of Ram Ray, who caused the death of Guru Tegh Bahadur, Kudi Mar, who destroyed their own daughters, and Bhadani, who shaved their head and beard. The Sikh Rehat Maryada, published in 1950, prohibits the practice strictly.

See also

• Female infanticide in India
• Doodh peeti