‘Orphan’ as a category of analysis: Historicizing ‘child rescue’ in colonial India, 1860s–1920s

This article makes a case for using “orphan” as an analytical category in historicizing child rescue in nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries colonial India. It argues that child rescue efforts in the 19th century were tied to the concept of jati, and were therefore largely communitarian in nature. The paper contends that the category of “orphan” provides a fresh perspective on identity formation and community-building, demonstrating how orphans were instrumental not only for the British “civilizing mission” but also for the Indian nation-building efforts. It reveals how the category remains a potent tool for mobilizing communities and shaping public policy in modern India.