Women’s role in biological reproduction is recognised in Indian society over and above their contributions to social reproduction. For ages, dais—traditional midwives—have played important roles in birthing care in India, yet they are subjected to social and economic marginalisation. Contemporary interrogations into the lives of these women reveal their precarious condition. Despite continuing to represent a rich heritage of health care, they now mostly serve those who are yet to benefit from planned development. The current status of the dai has roots in the social history of the institution, which is yet to get adequate attention in research. This article attempts to explore how the images of the dais have been socially constructed in the changing socio-economic, cultural and political contexts of 20th century Bengal.
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