In the history of British rule in India, which social practice was specifically declared illegal by Act V of 1843, also known as the Indian Slavery Act of 1843?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests knowledge of specific social reform legislation passed during British rule in India. Different regressive social practices were abolished at different times through separate laws, and exam questions often ask you to match the reform to the correct Act and year. Here, the focus is on Act V of 1843, widely known as the Indian Slavery Act of 1843, which addressed the legal status of slavery in British India. Being able to distinguish this Act from earlier or later laws against Sati, child marriage or other practices is important for mastering modern Indian history and social reform chronology.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The Act referred to is Act V of 1843, passed under British administration in India.
• It is popularly called the Indian Slavery Act of 1843.
• The options list several social practices: Sati, slavery, polygamy, child marriage and female infanticide.
• We assume standard historical facts as found in Indian history texts.

Concept / Approach:
Sati, the burning of widows on the funeral pyres of their husbands, was outlawed earlier in 1829 by Regulation XVII under Governor General Lord William Bentinck. Child marriage and polygamy were addressed in stages by later laws, such as the Age of Consent Act and various social reform statutes. Act V of 1843 specifically aimed at ending the legal recognition of slavery within British India. It did not entirely erase all forms of bonded labour in practice, but it removed the legal basis for treating human beings as property that could be bought, sold or enforced through the courts, which was a significant step in the legal abolition of slavery.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify the Act in question: Act V of 1843, historically known as the Indian Slavery Act. 2. Recall that Sati was legally abolished earlier in 1829, not in 1843. 3. Child marriage and polygamy were dealt with gradually and through other legislation, not specifically by Act V of 1843. 4. Act V of 1843 primarily targeted the institution of slavery by ending its legal enforceability in British courts. 5. Therefore, the practice declared illegal in this Act was slavery.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard modern Indian history references list 1829 for the abolition of Sati and 1843 for the Indian Slavery Act. The 1843 legislation made it illegal for courts to enforce any rights arising out of the ownership of a person as a slave, and it forbade public servants from selling or buying people as property. By matching dates and names of the Acts, one can cross-verify that slavery is correctly associated with Act V of 1843, while the other practices in the options belong to different reforms and years.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Sati Pratha: Abolished by Regulation XVII of 1829 under Lord William Bentinck, not by the 1843 Act.
• Polygamy: Addressed in various social and religious reform contexts but not primarily the focus of Act V of 1843.
• Child marriage: Subject to later legislation like the Age of Consent Act and Child Marriage Restraint Act, not the 1843 statute.
• Female infanticide: Condemned and acted against by the colonial state, but through different measures and not specifically via Act V of 1843.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often memorise social reform Acts only partially and then confuse the years. A typical error is to mix up the abolition of Sati with the Indian Slavery Act or to assume that all social evils were banned together by a single law. In reality, reforms came in stages, each with its own context. A good strategy is to remember a simple timeline: 1829 for Sati, 1843 for slavery, and later years for child marriage reforms. This helps in answering one marker questions quickly and accurately.

Final Answer:
Act V of 1843, known as the Indian Slavery Act, specifically made slavery illegal in British India.