The Devadasi system was an ancient practice in India where young girls were dedicated to the service of a deity or temple. Originally, these devadasis were highly respected, trained in classical dance, music, and religious rituals, and served an important spiritual role within temple premises. The tradition, in its purest form, celebrated devotion, art, and culture. However, over time, the system degraded. As royal patronage declined, many devadasis were pushed into poverty, making them vulnerable to exploitation. The practice transformed into a social evil where girls, often from Dalit and lower-caste backgrounds, were dedicated at a young age and later subjected to sexual exploitation by priests, landlords, and wealthy patrons. Their lives became trapped in cycles of abuse, with no opportunity for marriage or normal societal roles.
Social reformers such as Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Dhondo Keshav Karve, and various Indian activists led fierce campaigns against the practice during the 19th and 20th centuries. British colonial authorities also played a role in bringing attention to the abuses associated with the devadasi system. Reformers like Charles Grant and William Bentinck, who were already involved in abolishing practices like Sati, supported measures to regulate and eventually suppress the devadasi tradition as part of broader colonial social reforms. However, their motivations were often mixed — sometimes genuinely humanitarian, but also sometimes driven by a colonial desire to portray Indian society as "backward" in need of British "civilization."
By the early 20th century, growing public pressure led to legal action. Laws like the Madras Devadasis (Prevention of Dedication) Act, 1947 were passed to criminalize new dedications and offer rehabilitation to existing devadasis. Despite legal bans, the devadasi system has not been completely eradicated. Even today, in rural areas of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra, incidents continue where girls from poor and marginalized families are dedicated under different names and hidden practices. Factors like poverty, caste discrimination, and lack of education keep the remnants of this system alive. Efforts by the government, activists, and NGOs have helped many former devadasis find new livelihoods, but complete eradication remains an ongoing struggle. The devadasi system remains a haunting example of how a cultural tradition meant to honor the divine was corrupted into exploitation — and how even after centuries, injustice can persist unless society actively works to dismantle it.
Social reformers such as Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Dhondo Keshav Karve, and various Indian activists led fierce campaigns against the practice during the 19th and 20th centuries. British colonial authorities also played a role in bringing attention to the abuses associated with the devadasi system. Reformers like Charles Grant and William Bentinck, who were already involved in abolishing practices like Sati, supported measures to regulate and eventually suppress the devadasi tradition as part of broader colonial social reforms. However, their motivations were often mixed — sometimes genuinely humanitarian, but also sometimes driven by a colonial desire to portray Indian society as "backward" in need of British "civilization."
By the early 20th century, growing public pressure led to legal action. Laws like the Madras Devadasis (Prevention of Dedication) Act, 1947 were passed to criminalize new dedications and offer rehabilitation to existing devadasis. Despite legal bans, the devadasi system has not been completely eradicated. Even today, in rural areas of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra, incidents continue where girls from poor and marginalized families are dedicated under different names and hidden practices. Factors like poverty, caste discrimination, and lack of education keep the remnants of this system alive. Efforts by the government, activists, and NGOs have helped many former devadasis find new livelihoods, but complete eradication remains an ongoing struggle. The devadasi system remains a haunting example of how a cultural tradition meant to honor the divine was corrupted into exploitation — and how even after centuries, injustice can persist unless society actively works to dismantle it.
