Socio-spatial Patterns of Age Disparity Between Widow and Widower in North-East India

Abstract

Widowhood continues to be a social stigma even in 21st century. In fact, the widows constitute 7.36%
of female population in the country. However, there exists a considerable spatial variation in the proportion of widows in different parts of the country depending on variation in population composition and
associated socio-cultural practices. The scenario of widowhood is no less different in North-East India
inhabited by a population of a diverse ethno-religious composition. The phenomenon of considerably
high incidence of widowhood in the region is largely the result of the prevalence of higher life expectancy
among females, age differential between husband and wife, restrictions in widow remarriage and polygamy. With this background an attempt has been made in this paper to investigate the patterns of
widowhood in different parts of North-East India as compared to India as a whole during 2001-2011 with
respect to age, inter-religion, rural-urban and caste-tribe variations. The study is primarily based on
secondary data obtained from various Census of India publications and partly based on primary data
collected from selected localities in and around Guwahati city. The data so obtained have been analysed
and presented using meaningful statistical and cartographic techniques