Includes bibliographical references and index.

Chapter 1: Some Historiographical Challenges in Approaching Child Marriage in India-- Chapter 2: Child Marriage and the Second Social Reform Movement -- Chapter 3: Governing Child Marriage in India: The Protracted Reform Process -- Chapter 4: Love and Law: Understanding Child Marriages in Rural West Bengal -- Chapter 5: Schooling, Work and Early Marriage: Girl Children in Contemporary Bengal --
Chapter 6: Wives and Workers: Early Marriage in West Bengal -- Chapter 7: Linking Child Marriage and Prostitution: The Last Girl -- Chapter 8: Preventing Child Marriage in West Bengal: The Experience of Barddhaman District.

"Love, Labour and Law: Child Marriage in India is a path-breaking book on an issue that has not been analysed in depth for a while, perhaps since it does not affect the elites. Nowadays, the child bride is usually from poor families and aged 15-17. This book discusses why child marriage persists despite numerous legislative and policy initiatives to 'eliminate' the practice. The chapters examine social and legal reforms to raise the age of marriage; contemporary education and health related policy attempts at prevention; relationship of child marriage with child labour, sex work, human trafficking and other issues. Increasingly, there is greater resistance to marriages arranged by parents from the 'child' brides themselves who can now access institutional and bureaucratic support. How hopeful are these developments? The book goes beyond a simple policy focus on 'elimination' and provides a much-needed understanding of marriage and women's agency within the context of the Indian marriage system"-- Provided by publisher.