Professional Documents
Culture Documents
HIGH
-CASTE
WOMAN,
HINDU
itv
PUNDITA
RAMABAI
vSARASVATL
wmt
or
Accordingto
I: :^Srf^"S
RAMABAI
in
the
Office
of the
Press
Act
of
Congress,
DONORS
librarian
ot The
of
in
tfce year
1887,by
MEDHAVI,
Congress
AU
rights
reserved.
TO
Off
MEMORY
MY
DONGR3,
LAKSHMIBAI
WHOSE
THIS
IS
MOST
GUIDE
AND
LIGHT
ABWffi
AND
INFLUENCE
SWEET
MOTHER,
BELOVED
UTTU-C
KEV"R"NTI,Y
OF
MY
VOLUME
DEDICATED.
ftt
ANANDIBAI
JOSHEE,
DAUGHTER
OF
GANPATRAO
M.
D.
AMRITASWAR
AND
OUNGABAI
in
Boni
1865.
(Child-name,
Married
Sailed
being
first
of
College
Hindu
cine
Landed
in
in
Sailed
Died
th$
1st,
Fetnale
the
from
the
the
nth,
Degree
June
to
come
Medical
Woman's
1886, being
of
the
4th, 1883.
Doctor
New
position
1886, to the
Ward
City of Kolhapur,
from
in
1874.
3ist,
the
of
first
Medi*"
country.
of
put, October
York,
March
receive
Appointed, June
xn*Charge
March
woman
tfew
in
medicine,
to
any
in
Brahman
Pennsylvania,
woman
3ist,
Joshee,)
high-caste
States,
Graduated
Joshce,
from
the
United
Vinoyak
Anandibai
March
Joshee.)
Yamuna
Gopalrao
(Wife-name,
Presidency, India,
Bombay
Poona,
York,
to
of
the
Albert
Physician-
Edward
pital,
Hos-
India,
assume
her
duties
9tht 1886.
Poona,
of
India; February
?6th, 1887.
in
Kolha-
INTRODUCTION.
silence of
THE
and
the
reader
catches
of
with
unpretending
this
of
the
broken,
little volume
unfamiliar
voice
revealed
in
the following
they are
can
intelligent,educated, happy Ameri-
woe,
to
pages
been
has
years
first utterances
the
Throbbing
thousand
women.
God
all
women
away,
as
above
turn
upon
they
are
whom
women,
the
earth,
wont
to
has
He
do
from
some
without
The
flippantly
not
may
blessed
!
reading, condemn
Womant
High-caste Hindu
over-
To
begin
and
not
to
read
tears
my
it
the
fall upon
have ever
wept.
which
eyes
childhood
From
cottcernmg
of
ladiju
My
I had
page
been
the
saddest
familiar with
the condition
sympathies
are
had
of the
the
native
always
tears
ments
state-
women
been
*
with
Introduction.
ii
them, and my
annual
to
offering
worked
societies which
sionary
the treasury of misamong
them,
had
words,
lady
the
upon
I have loved the
months
ago,
the
women
gave
before to honor
and
her
woman,
in
little
city of
stirred
birth,was
amid
of
three
than
conservative
and
lieu
The
of India.
Joshee. I^ess
wealthy
stranger's cheek
Anandibai
Mrs.
was
in
omitted; but
been
never
as
the pomp
performed by orthodox
Hindu
her funeral pilewas
priests,
lightedfrom the
sacred fire,in the presence of a great throng of sorrowing
She sealed with her early death the
Hindus.
superhuman effort to elevate her countrywomen and
to minister
in her own
to their physical
person
of Brahmanical
funeral
rites
needs.
To
there
witness
came
to
Dr.
Philadelphiafrom JBngland
Pundita
met
until
Ramabai
Sarasvatl
The
her
two
woman,
kins-
ladies
Introduction.
which
degree of Intelligence
My
to
lot in
cook
in
her
her
who
to her
lookers.
on-
fell
own
was
room
revelation to
the
this
faithfully,
her studies,and
and
own
our
was
iii
constant
the anthracite
vexation, and
coal-stove
likewise
source
invited her
to pay
left it
never
again
short
years
come,
.
In the
an
audience
Joshee acceptedan
of ladies convened
vitatio
infor
ject
missionaryanniversary,and she chose as her subence
Child Marriage/1and surprisedher great audiIf there are
by defending the national custom.
of disappointment
stillcherish the feelings
any who
and regretengenderedthat April afternoon, let them
turn to Ramabai's
chapter on Married I/ife in this
it was
for
Wok, and learn how absolutelyimpossible
"
Introduction.
iv
high-casteHindu
wife
page
she
40). That
she
did
to
"
She
had
storation
returned
to them
of the
ra*
of her
she
was
born*
took
body, which
death,her husband
photographtaken
of "mat-
Introduction.
ter
before it
The
and ashes/*
into vapor
The
lifelessform is indescribable.
transformed
was
pathos of
that
last of several
of the
career
them
all.
The
brief
public
eloquent of
their shadows
known
had
that
the
reached
her
and
and
mute
to extend
Even
distinguishedyoung
early home, old and
non-orthodox,
a
to
came
pay
was
Hindu
doctor
young,
dox
ortho-
friendly visits
cordial welcome.
the reformers
the
it
Instead, when
shunned.
in which
manner
astounded
were
when
the travelers
were
held
they betreated
character
and
work.
and
from
Ramabai
them
has
I make
translated two
extracts
of
"Dr. Anandibai
Joshee has left us to abide in the
next world ; but the example she has set will not be
lady
fruitless. It is indeed wonderful that a Brahman
severance,
^perhas proved to the world that the great qualities"
and
undaunted
an
unselfishness,
courag^
one's country" do exist in the
eager desire to serve
We
ought as a people to do
So-called,weaker sex
something that will remind us of her and l"ear wit-
Introduction.
vi
lady
27,
be
Kesari, February
perpetuated."-"
1887.
our
nessed
wit-
dissipated,"
Although Anandibai
44
her perseverso
ance,
young,
devotion
husband
to
her
courage
were
think it will be long before
unparalleled, we
shall
we
like her in this country.
again see a woman
We
do not hesitate to say that Dr. Joshee is worthy
of a hi^h place on
the roll of historic women
who
have striven to serve
and to elevate their native land*
The education that she had
received had
greatlyheightenedher nature and ennobled her mind.
than words
Although she suffered more
can
express
from her ^mortal disease,phthisis,
not a word
either
of complaint or impatience
her
at
escaped lips any time*
After months
of dreadful suffering
she was
reduced
to skin and bone, and
that looked at her
every one
could not but be greatly pained;
yet, wonderful to
Anandibai
relate,
thought it her present duty to suffer
was
undaunted
and
and cheerfully.
silently
After the picturew*3
taken, her relatives bathed the body and decked it
with bright garments and
ornaments, according to
Hindu
custom.
There was
time to spread the sad
no
news
throughout the city,but as many
heard it
as
.
Introduction*
vii
viii
Introduction.
the thralldom
in which
in Indian
the dwellers
nas
zena-
held
might
flow forth in
Indian
women.
Woman
Hindu
is not
She
the
reached
has
by
with
nation
the
The
an
nature
iconoclast.
an
strong love.
pure,
it is akin
height where
skillful surgeon
she
love has
her
But
to the motive
to inflict pain
dares
her
loves
She
of
because
she
of
regardspain as affordingthe only sure means
"relief. She is satisfied,
that India cannot
moreover,
arise and
the nations
take her place among
of the
"earth
until
is transformed
zenana
"the
; until
mothers
into
the
Hindu
the
Hindu
where
home,
united
have
family can
"pleasant times t"5.gether" (see p. 48).
The experiment of bringing the existingcondition
"of
tfew
in
women
beheld
"less "have
have
them
the
from
education
his wife
bai
her
never
saw
sacred
a
copy
their
he
as
heard,
was
own
them, much
Even
eyes.
in his views
cerning
con-
of women,
withheld the sacred
and
daughters. The Sanskrit
literature accessible to
associated with
ever
with
Shastri,liberal
Ananta
texts
India
of the
scholastic attainments
Code
had
ceremonies.
of Manu
been
not
Rama*
until after
publiclyrecognized
in Calcutta.
She
has
exercised great
care
in
securing correctness
Introduction.
ix
in Her
quotations,diligently
comparing translations,
where
than
more
one
were
available,and in some
cases
making the translation herself from the original
Sanskrit.
The
general statements
throughout the
book
the
be relied upon
for their accuracy.
Should
may
volume
reach India,these statements
will edly
undoubtbe
assailed
possibly there
untruthful
as
and
be
may
in the
persons
will strive to create this
who
sacrilegious,and
United
States
and
essential
nothing
has
India
revealed
this information
for the
the
There
are
book, will
all
and
In view
and
rescue
seeks
she
relief.
of
title-page
for the
name
hearts of
first
fact,that
of the
reputationor of
vine
believes,by the Di-
the
who, upon
will
such
not
of
to deeds of
Pundita's
the
does
revelation
story
readers
see
She
purpose
taught,as she
read the
those who
her.
to
to
this
time,
is she?
assume
grave
weird
beginning
to turn
in
early
the
to page
The
make
read
37 and
on
the
of
the
learned
he
who
pundit,
Ttiis Brahman
cared
native of the
the
who
Ananta
quirer
in-
sacred
came
to
Shastri,
carried away
Ramabai's
the
mo,
"well
ther.
the
occurrence,
of
banks
ask
an
fine-lookingman
was
It is
answer-
life-sketch to
morning,
river Godavari.
and
of
to
and
tenderly
was
expectation/*
Mangalore district in
Western
India.
Introduction.
boyhood, when
In his
married, and
been
had
and
house
mother's
about
ten
brought
committed
the
little
girl to
her
possessedwith a desire
keeping. He, however, was
of knowledge, and attracted by the
for the acquisition
scholar,
fame of Ramachandra
Shastri, a distinguished
his way
thither,
dwelt in Poona, he early made
who
Brahman
This eminent
and sought his instruction.
to visit
had been employed by the reigning Peshwa
vorite
his palacestatedly,and
give Sanskrit lessons to a fawife.
The
student Ananta
was
privilegedto
his teacher, and, thus
going in and out
accompany
heard the lady reciting
of the palace,he occasionally
Sanskrit
The
poems.
boy
should
be
gave
resolved
he
learned, and
so
he would
that
ended
his duties
with
as
The
married
on,
ment
astonish-
learning,and
little wife just as
the palace. His
and he
twenty-three,
incorporateeducation
of
the
But
his mother
and
the husband
life went
woman
her
of
householder.
familydemurred,and
to desist.
wore
his
villageto
desire to be instructed
of the
age
that
of
teach
at the
to his native
hastened
on,
bride
had
compelled
was
children
were
born
the
The
time
admiration
place to
student-life
to
as
the
no
wonder
filled with
was
young
widower
in Poona
and
begin his
next
the
Sanskrit
and
poems,
he
resolved
to
experiment early.
learn from
how
We
the printed page
the littlebride of nine.who was
offered
to
him, and
carried her
he
delivered
his
to
her
to
her
Sanskrit.
as
voice
his distant
mother, and
But
the
home
; there
he
immediately began
elders of
was
tie
to
household
too young
husband
accepted
to
teach
jected
ob-
have
resolved that
Introduction.
the
with
his
remote
in the
as
wife
young
plateau of
jungle, took
how
without
shelter
the
to
Gungamul, on
Ghauts, and literally
abode.
his
childhood
was
left the
forest of
the Western
up
be
should
valley
journeyed upward
and
him,
her
Ramabai
relates
recital of
mother's
of any
and
from
darkness,
therefore
He
out.
of her
memory
the first night
the
girl'seducation
civilization below
and
the
of
experiment
carried
faithfully
xi
across
made
ravine,
the
The
littlebnde
night hideous with its cries.
wrapped
herself up tight in her pasodi (cotton quilt)and lay
the ground convulsed
with
terror, while the
upon
husband
kept watch until daybreak, when the hungry
of the jungle
beast disappeared. The wild animals
all about them, and
were
hourly terrified the lonely
little girl; but the lessons went
without hindrance,
on
and day by day the wife,I/akshmibai,grew 'in stature
and in knowledge
A rude dwelling was
constructed,
and
after
few years
in the forest,
"
devoted
one
himself
daughter, and
sought
littlechildren
son
and
two
out
the
famous
whose
in
dwelling-place
the
of
of the
regarded
one
rivers,was
of the
of young
now
to
daughters.
to the education
also to that
came
men
The
father
and
who,
Brahman
mountains,
as
son
home
the
at the
sacred, and
elder
as
dents,
stu-
priest,
source
hence
therefore,devolved
The
the
visitingpilgrimsand
members
mother-in-law, now
aged father
of the
and
as well
ifatoily,
as
the
the children
of the household,
entailed many
cares
upon the educated
mother,and the only time that could be found
Hindu
for the
Introduction.
and
children wandered
from
xiii
localityto the
the early mornnext, having no certain dwelling-place,
ing
lessons were
continued, and Ramabai, developing
rare
talent,became, under the instructions of father
and mother,
a
prodigy of erudition.
Engrossed in
her studies,she was
allowed
to remain
singleuntil the
sacred
one
"
"
"
age of sixteen,
each other,her
when, within
month
parents died.
earliest years," Ramabai
"From
my
a love of books.
had
and
half
of
ways
al-
states, "I
of
both
were
mind."
one
When
death
family
not
be
the
extreme
was
secured
ghat,which
the
who
to
bear
death.
took
The
remains
the
At
first; in
poverty of the
pity upon
to the
distant from
length
them,
two
and
and
age
consequently, Brahmans
three miles
was
mother's
found
followed.
mother
invaded
could
burning-
the
Braimans
with
of
scene
the
were
ance
assist-
selves
daughterthempreciousburden to the distant place
low stature compellingthe
of cremation, Ramabai's
bearing of her share of the burden upon her head.
of nameless
this passage
woe?
do I recount
Why
in our
American
Because
own
we
women,
Why?
of these men,
carried the
homes,
Upon
have
whom
never
the
devoted
son
before looked
ministryof
sorrow
and
one
overwhelmingas
Introduction.
xiv
this lias been
laid, and
of
made
The
men.
the city of
she
whom
lovelywoman
Philadelphiaand
dedicates it were
in the
and
hath
need, in
we
of
all nations
blood
one
writes this
who
the
book
mother
beloved
filialaffection which
and
to
Gungamul
titute
pilgrimagealike des-
true
loved and
in
in the forest of
later,dusty paths of
of the
prosperity,
our
their
tually
mu-
the
same
the woild
the
elder sister,
over
After the
Ramabai
death
and
visited many
of the
her
parents and
brother continued
to travel.
They
Bengal
and
and
countnes
on
Madras, and,
as
pilgrims,were
often in
distress.
cating
They spent their time in advofemale education,i. e." that before
marriage
Hindu
high-caste
girls should be instructed in vSansknt and in their vernacular,
accordingto the ancient
want
Shastras,
She
scholarship.
pundits of
examination
the
by
was
her
lecturer created
views and her
advanced
summoned
capitalcity; and
result of their
the
me
for me;
left alone in the world?
I answered:
anxiety,
what
When
would
come
be-
he spoke
but Goci
'There is no one
for you
and me.'
'Ah/ he answered, 'then
if God
for us, I am
cares
afraid of nothing/ And,
indeed,in my loneliness,
it seemed as if God was "car
me
j I felt His presence." " After six months
I marto
care
Introduction.
tied
xv
But
of
civil marriage
happy
married
rite.
husband's
happy
and
name
widow
she
lecturer. It became
the
of
cause
Hindu
believed to be the
times.
modern
gained her
W.
Her
true
and
earnestness
the
interests of India.
good she
was
that he made
in
her
cupation
oc-
especialmission
accordingto
women,
cient
rendering of the anthe degraded notions
whom
and
father
her
admirers, among
many
educational
in the
former
to her
returned
now
Shastras,in opposition to
of
before the
few months
Him,
her
Ramabai
as
what
to
come
little
before
to advocate
to
was
mother
beautiful
if I
' '
me.
I felt that He
to God.
born
daughter was
daughter greatlydesired by both
death
home"
The
draw
Himself
must
died of cholera.
dear husband
that
with
months
nineteen
After
nearer
me
and
teaching me,
He
duism
Hin-
married
were
we
so
in
either
believed
us
life,
my
of
and
Christianity,
or
the
neither
we
enthusiasm
Dr.
was
with
the
W.
British
He
doing so well
the subjectof
lecture
delivered
Edinburgh.
"
When
Indian
lady being
audience
which
her
spoke," says
rose
as
thus
one
the Pundita
in
man
and
Ramabai
was
Henceforth
countrywomen/'
known
England, as
well
as
in
name
was
of the
well
were
people
of
Hindustan.
degraded condition of
her countrywomen, she formed
in Poona
a societyof
the Arya Mahila
as
ladies,known
Somaj,whose obWith
view
to
improve
the
Introduction.
xvi
native
promotion of education among
and
the discouragement of child-marriage.
women,
bay
from city to citythroughout the BomShe then went
ing
branch societies and arousPresidency,establishing
the
the people by her eloquent appeals. When
in Sepvisited Poona
tember,
English Education Commission
tional
1882, for the purpose of inspectingthe educainstitutions of that city,the leading Brahman
of the newly-formed societyand others,
ladies,members
ject
the
was
to the number
movement
of the
of about
three
being inauguratedby
was
Marathi
Ramabai
Pundita
country.
of the occasion.
orator
Hunter,
Dr.
made
President
as
Ramabai
the
the
was
of the Education
sion,
Commis-
prominent figureamong
the
examined
before
noteworthy persons who were
him during that visit. He regarded her evidence as of
much
so
importance that he caused it to be translated
from, the Marathi and separatelyprinted. A copy of
this India print is before me
I write.
There are
as
many
three
viz. :
questions,
"
Questionr
"State
the
on
opinion
your
experience
what
opportunities
you
subject of Education
has been
gained?
in
have
India, and
had
in
of forming an
what province
and
the
vicissitudes of her
stated,had
"I
am
the child of
man
who
had
Female
Education
closes thus
to suffer
great deal
in
:"
on
account
Introduction.
xvii
compelled to discuss
Education, and who was
his own
out
well as to carry
great oppoviews, amidst
sition
it my
I consider
duty, to the very end of my life,to
this cause, and
maintain
to advocate the proper
position of women
this land "
in
of
advocating Female
the
subject,as
.
Question
2."
What
of
providing teachers
for
girls?
come
who
Answer
evident that the women
to me
to beare
2 "It
appears
teachers
of others
work.
should
have
a special training for that
Besides having a correct knowledge of their own
language, they ought
to acquire
Whether
teachers
are
those training to be iemale
English
married
their
in
or
unmarried, or widows, they ought to be correct
conduct
and
morals, and they ought also to DC of respectable families.
to
be provided with
ought
They
good scholarships Teachers of girls
also ought to have higher salaries than those of boys, as they should
be
of a superior character
and
position. The students should live in the
and
their manners*
habits improved,
college compound, so as to nave
and
there ought to be a large building with
appliance for the
every
comfort of the teachers and students.
They ought to have a native lady
of good position over
them.
Mere
learning is not enough ; the conduct
of the students should be attended
and morals
to.
f
'
do you
Question 3." What
regard as the chief defects,other than any
to which
that experience has brought to light
have
already
referred,
you
What
in the. educational
system as it has been hitherto administered?
for the remedy of such delects ?
suggestions have you to make
female
inspectresses over
ought to be female
3." There
These
ought to,be of the age of thirty or upwards, and of a
Native
or
European.
class, and highly educated, whether
very supenor
for the following reasons
men
Male
(i)The woinspectorsare unsuitable
of this country are
If a male
inspector goes into a
very timid
and girls are
thrown
into confusion, and
female school,all the women
this state of things will
unable
to speak. The
inspector
are
seeing
teachers, and so in all probability
write a bad report of the school and
for that school, and so the
teacher
male
a
will
Government
appoint
tion
teacher.
As the educaschool will not have the advantage of a female
of girlsis different from that of boys, female schools ought to be in
In ninetyis this
the hands of female teachers.
(2)The second reason
of
are
this
of
the
educated
men
out
a
hundred,
country
posed
opcases
nine
If they
and the proper positionof woman.
Education
to Female
into
of mustard-seed
observe the slightestfault,they magnify the gram
the
ofa
often
character
the
ruin
woman
and
to
poor
a mountain,
try
,
-and well informed, her character is
not being very courageous,
woman,
able to reach the authorities are
Men
being more
completely broken.
should be alike to a paBoth
wall,
to
the
while
rental
women
believed;
go
Government, whose children, male and female, should be .treated
It is evident that women,
being one-half of the
with equal justice
treated by the other
and
cruelly
are
oppressed
people of this country,
"al" To. put a stop to this anomaly is worthy of a good Government*
Another
augrcestion I wonld make" is with regard to lady-doctors.
there
of gentleman-doctors,
numbers
there are
in
Hindustan
Though
much
of
this
are
The
that
women
country
of
profession.
ladies
are no
rather
of them would
reserved than ifiother countries,and most
WOTS
of
is,
want
The
to
ailments
of
their
a man.
die than *aeak
lady^doctprs
dying prematbw*"r"7thecatute of hundreds of thousands of women
fwoisld,
earnestly entreat of our Government
tu*e deaths,
tfcesrttfore,
and thus save
of
medicine by women,
for
rirovisioa
the study
to make
of
fr'one very
foo"docto**
w*at
maltltaide*.
those
of
.Th*
th* Jtafe
of this
mufcb felt and id a great defect in the Education of the women
Answer
schools.
""
'
xviii
Introduction.
to these
answers
3), is believed
Answer
of her
have
have
to
in
developments,
has
Hindustan
which, in
latest
its
to
tion
proportions of The National Associafor Supplying Female Medical Aid to the Women
Countess1 of Dufferin
as the
of India, popularly known
reached
the noble
"
of the
her work
enable
to
the
among
she
as
of that
her
in
solemn
had
Hindu
become
to
woman
off from
me
to
as
and
tection.
whither
I went.
in St.
me.
could
Mary's
There
have
if
haply she
"
as
When
Home
at
to
see
the
started
I felt a
"
I could
faith in
as
Abraham,
me
to
came
now
I did
on
oneself always
voice
to
seems
very
with
my
God's pro*
knowing
reached England, the Sisters
Wantage kindly received
graduallylearned
and
Christianity,
cuts
; one
But
"
throwing myself
forth
went
sea
It
...
little child
I
it is such
people.
one's
the
cross
Abraham.
strange how
friend
strong
sessed
pos-
movement
find Him
and
come
be-
experience
success
guidance,her spiritwas
is the
sonal
per-
cation.
in behalf of edu-
God ward,
(they)might
had
which
unrest
prosecute with
to
of India
of God's
conscious
soul
her
women
Then, too,
of the
herself needed
now
training
wife
India.
Viceroy of
Ramabai
the
distinguishedpresident,
its
from
Movement,"
that it is
to
a
not
feel the
truth
of
philosophy,teach*
Introduction.
xix
"
and
the
whom
influence
she
made
refined and
educational
near
witness
Mrs.
After
presence
its
Wantage,
Character. She
studies,and
appointment
at
ernment
possibleGov-
in India
loomed
up
nth, 1886
"holy
for
the
and
there
with
women
March
That
Christian
salutary in
in her
rapid progress
in the
noble
associated,both
was
most
was
of the
land
called America"
her, and
and
these
work
of
were
her
had
now
traction
long held atheightened by
beloved
kinswoman.
painfulindecision,she decided to
her sole reason
for allowing her
accept the invitation,
studies to "be interruptedthus
inopportunely being
her thorough conviction that it was
her duty in the
interests of
her
that time.
In
Upon
an
of
weeks
some
to visit America
at
countrywomen
February, 1896, she again embarked
unknown
sea,
accompanied by
her
young
Introduction.
adapt
it to
Hindu
needs
In
xxi
September, 1886,
she
ten
promptly enrolled herself as a student in a kindergarher
have perduties
and, as
training-school,
public
mitted,
she has faithfully
of study
pursued the course
can
throughout the scholastic year just ending". Amerischool-books were
to her in the beauty
a revelation
of their illustrations and of their letter-press
and the
qualityof the paper upon which they are printed. In
series of
a
July, 1886, she set herself to work upon
Marathi
school-books for girls,modeled
after the American
idea, beginning with a primer and continuing
regularlyup to a reader of the sixth grade. She was
to results,designing to illustrate with
enthusiastic
as
American
cessarily
wood-cuts,although the printing would nebe delayed until Bombay
is reached, on account
of the Marathi
type required. The primer was
finished,and much of the material for the reading
soon
stituted
inwas
a
books prepared,when
prudent investigation
fact revealed
expensive to
the
Thus
the
to
as
that
cost
the
be dreamed
case
stands
the
of illustrations,and
charming pictureswere
stern
far too
Rama-
the courageous
bai, the high-caste Brahman
woman,
daughter of the forest,educated, refined,rejoicingin
the
the
ing
Gospel, and yet by preferenceretainHindu's
as
care
a
regards a vegetable diet, and
of the dress of Hindu
widowhood,
peculiarities
libertyof
the
consecrated
sole'mnly
work
to the
of
developing self-
school, such
developed,
well
and
as
two
she
describes
teachers
on
page
14,
(Amerkfah Taffies,
Tickets for
graduated kindergartner)secured.
herself and teachers might be taken for India at once,
the untimely
and as a result of the strong reaction which
death of Dr. Joshee has set up, Ramabai, outcast
one
Introduction.
xxii
is among
her own
people,might
favorable auspices, her work
among
though,she
under
inaugurate,
the child-
widows
the money
is wanting. In 1793, when
Carey, the first English missionaryto Asia,
William
But
down
India,he said
into the
hold
deep
but
"
about him,
to those
mine,
about
was
I will
that you
remember
"
As I close this chapter,the
ropes
the favored women
longing fillsmy soul that among
of this Christian land there might be found a sufficient
must
the
to hold
number
the ropes
"
It must
not
of
even
quicklyto
few thousand
must
her
dollars,but
periodof
few hundred
or
steadyholdingon
less than
not
be let go while
not
God-inspiredwork
fitfulbenefaction of
ropes, for
to the
They
be
for
ten
years.
in the throes of
she
with
death-struggle
superstitionand caste prejudice,
and
feminine
unwillingnessto rise,is fastened to the
India end
A
decade
presumed
of years
to
appeal
ago, no sane
to the women
shall
days
be made
!
to
shall be born
written, "the
"
power
young girlsof
this of Ramabai,
come
to the
projectsuch as
in
rapidlywe are moving
on
We
read in prophecythat "the earth
bring forth in one day," and "a nation
at
in that
birth, the
their
"
;" and
once
people shall
When
have
and
would
woman
degradation,and
Help or we perish!
"
be
another
willingin
great Hindu
women
are
sure
the
day of
nation
moved
word
to
about
is
His
to
arise in
themselves
it cannot
multitude
of women
must
be found
corresponding,
elsewhere,willing,in the day of God's power, to send
the help.
There have long been in every community, women
who
not in accord with the so-called missionary
are
a
xxiii
Introduction.
and
societies,
or
who
contribute
never
to the material
aid of Oriental
ment
enlighten-
the
to
Rama-
women.
bai's
and
work
so-called,
may
work,
school
be continued
the
by
of
Pundita
bears
ties
socie-
its own
sionary
mis-
to
witness, in public and in private,
the
Hindu
however
manner,
any
women
of church
as
remote,
societies.
Hindus,
to
give
either
She
the
seeks to
them
liberty
as
been
sum
may
be
commenced,
printed,in
privately
book
in
the
to the
sentation
pre-
public.
xxiv
Introduction.
Ramabai
heard
time
at any
the
whose
of this book
the
by
heart
perusalof
has
stirred to compassion
been
its sorrowful
purchasea
the same,
the work
is done, and
sale of
the
copy,
had
last message
them/' she
and
it was
mankind
for the
readers
of her book.
mind
"Re-
ance
countenreplied,with animated
rapidspeech,as she clasped my hand "that
out of Nazareth
came
that
'
great reforms
Redeemer
of
and
again
instrumentalities that the world
have
1400 NORTH
aist ST
June
PHILADELPHIA,
ist, 1887.
CONTENTS.
PREFATORY
CHAPTER
I.
CHAPTER
IL
REMARKS,
CHILDHOOD,
...................
CHAPTER
MARRIED
LIFE,
PI"ACE
29
IN
REWOION
CHAPTER
WIDOWHOOD,
EBB
SOCIETY,
AND
CONDITION
OF
AWPRAI*
....................
..."
50
V.
69
WOMEN
CHAPTER
THE
IV.
....................
CHAPTER
How
III.
...................
CHAPTER
WOMAN'S
12
VI.
TEI"I^
UPON
SOCIETY, 94
VH.
107
THE
HIGH-CASTE
PREFATORY
order
IN
it
woman,
reader
the
to
REMARKS.
know
is
Hindustan
population of
foreign
The
nation.
numbers
fiftymillions,and
du
Hin-
religionand
of the
Hindu
of the
of
the
for
necessary
something
social customs
and
tlielife
understand
to
WOMAN.
HINDU
red
hund-
two
is made
up
of
dus,
Hin-
more
are
than
professorsof
religion in
Among
are
these
one
or
the
essentiallythe
the
so-called
other
the
of
religiouscustoms
same
the
and
lation
popu-
Hindu
its
forms.
and
orders
social customs
The
but
they
High- Caste
have
Hindu
Woman.
underlying
similarity
unmistakable
an
them.
The
religionof
be
subject to
and
other
be
They believe
scriptures.
Paramatrna, which
when
and
formless
thing in
few
graphs
para-
the
Vedas
one
canonical
the
as
spirit,
supreme
present,
omnipassionless,
in its essence,
by Maya,
form,becomes
every
in
is pure,
it is influenced
assumes
in
vast
recognize the
apocryphalbooks
holy
is too
what
briefly
stated,
however, some-
Hindus
All
:"
Hindus
fully treated
; it may
thus
the
male
and
universe
but
it
illusion,
or
female,creates
out
of
its
own
substance.
it
worshiprivers,
mountains,heavenly
sin to
does
Hindu, therefore,
may
spirit Any
and
he
divinity
the
ruler.
con-
manifestations of the
the
own
objectof devotion"
choice ; Irisfavorite
and
universe,
supreme
man's
all
of these manifestations
one
be selected to be
accordingto
are
think
not
others
ruler of
gods,servants
of
tfte
tibt#
,
The
incessantly
try
must
the
of
earthly existences
renders him
perpetualbirths
These, with
articles of
deny
belief,and
These
much
are
the
daily life
and
who
Hindus
idolatrous
customs.
doing
called,are
are
national
religion.
be
it may
regardssocial customs,
that
present
theists in their
pure
they
chief
the
the
at
good by purifyingthe
As
are
creed
disregardall
as
degradation
are
beliefs,
few heterodox
they
Bramos,
rules
religious
or
deaths.
caste
least
the
liable to the
Hindu
are
all this ;
social
and
the
the
day. There
it is his
knowledge,for
of
transgression
trifling
of
tion
perfec-
the
to
to
series of
however
attain
to
supreme
last chance
long
Woman.
Hindu
High-Caste
habits
of
the
said
people
in India.
immensely influenced by religion
There
is not
by
religiously
that is not
act
an
them
humorous
performed
tag
author
i1
said,with
some
truth,that
sin
The
religiously."
the
morning,
of hands
and
the
"the
risingfrom
Hindus
eve"
the bed
ift,
cleaningof teeth,washing
bathingof
the
body,
Remarks.
Prefatory
of garments,
ing
and
eating
drinking and
is
description,
the
with
and
be
to
the
or
of similar
act
of prayers
or
"the
in
found
pro-
it is old
custom, when
entitled
lamp,
prescribedmanner,
utterance
Each
fire
every
in
done
silence.
enough
the
lighting
of the
way
an-
"*
form
the
cients," takes
most
part
independentof
that
so
customs, founded
are
tradition,
on
the canonical
person
is liable to
by custom,
be
much
punished, or
though
even
altogether
so
writings,
even
is
religionand
These
scrupulouslyobserved.
for the
of
bidden
for-
deed
it be
tioned
sanc-
by religion.
For
of
persons
by
forbidden
the
At
"
Pure
food of
4*
the
inferior caste
the sacred
prepared by
is not
laws,but
only
not
is sanctioned
them.*
by
an
food
Or
men
householder"
Shudras
(Brahman
(servile
caste)may
superintendence of
Apastymbo,XL
2, 3.
i.
men
4.
of
or
shall
other
prepare
the
high caste).
the
Hindu
High-Caste
The
overrules
custom
that
drink
nor
undergo some
heavy
became, as
the
entire
the
race.
of the nation.
caste)were
They,
all,and
society.The
in
their
wisdom,
The
to defend the
injustice
by
the
sequently
sub-
undertake
to
might promote
the welfare
priesthood(Brahman
be
the
the
were
spiritual
ernors
gov-
recognizedhead
vigorous,warlike
people (Kshatriya,
or
by
Aryan Hindus
portionapart
appointedto
over
the
talented and
of dividing
and
necessity
society,
the
the
must
was
set each
of
originatedin
intelligent
portionof
regainit
to
penance
of
transgressing
economical
saw
Hindus
doubt, "caste"
Without
of
touch
the
this rule
says
anything cooked
eat
of inferior caste.
person
most
not
pollutedby
water
laws, and
ancient
the
must
person
Woman.
warrior
portionof
was
caste)
of
physicalstrength;assisted
priesthood,
they were
temporal governors
in
the
to
be
the
administration of
Remarks.
Prefatory
tradesmen
justice. Tile business-loving
(Vaisya,or
artisans
trader
caste)had
was
(Shudra caste)
included
not
The
castes.
ancient
in the
times
capacityand
the
ceding
pre-
servile
accordingto
In
castes.
each
assignedto
were
an
of all those
up
precedingthree
persons
also
fourth,or
made
and
their individual
merit, independentof
"
dent
acci-
the
of birth.
Later
when
on,
it
faith,
the Hindu
;which
A
prevaileverywhere in
he
because
is honored
Brahman
was
family. Intermarriageof
lawful,even
as
been
had
a
man
of
woman
of
an
is overruled
take
into
born
castes
was
after caste
dia.
In-
the
merit,
Brahman
once
by
cognized
re-
tance
inheri-
acknowledged,provided that
superiorcaste
did
inferior caste ;
by
as
of his
because
head
but
article of
an
assumed
now
of
son
became
caste
custom.
place
without
not
but
marry
now
law
cannot
Intermarriages
involving serious
High-Caste
The
and
consequences,
The
four
again divided
are
belongingto high
men
clans must
not
low
transgress this
To
clans.
klose
Besides
of
by
even
"mixed
collectively,
of members
intermarriage
the
preceding; their
the
increased
by
is to
custom
relatives.
and
called
castes
formed
castes"
friends and
numerous
of
men
and
privileges,
intercourse with
are
casts.
offenders out-
the
making
principalcastes*
into clans ;
Woman.
Hindu
is
number
again
according to employment,
castes
scribe,tanner, cobbler,shoemaker,tailor,
as
the
as
"There
yas, and
have
among
their
own
ple
exam-
tions,
distinc-
themselves
as
are
VaisBrahmanas, Kshatriyas,
castes"
Shudras."
"Amongst
birth to the
"The
four
are
for
outcasts, such
sweeper,
powerful
as
the
Even
etc., etc.
precedingcaste is superiorby
-Apastamba I. i, i, 3, 4.
following.""
these, each
one
Brahmana,
the
twice-born
ones,
are
the
one
birth
only ;
there
is
Kshatriya and
but
no
the
the
Vaisya
castes
fourth,the Shudra,has
4.
PrefatoryRemarks.
those
the
of
high
subject to
punishment
change
of
Offenders
be
is
with
such
relation.
any
way
him
by
in it
high
only
social
what
caste
he
low-caste
is
as
this
caste
man,
is ordered
"
is
them,
he
an
outcast,
not
by
order, it has
now
Thoughtful men
others
like
the
low-*
entered
into
people will
look
wretch.
So
has
in
the
he
is not
heart
in
disrespectshown
since He
recognizes
by religion. For,
confessedlyan
tanya and
of
that
the
man
Brah-
any
custom
by
It
of lower
person
lawless
Hindu
offended
although "
of
The
orthodox
as
members
this Brahnten
every
severe
redemption*
whose
deeply rooted
of
shunned
own
caste
marry
drinks with
and
est,
low-
or
by intermarriage,
without
to
despisedand
upon
and
eats
only by his
the
highest to
excommunication
condescends
caste, or
the
faith,are
also
must
Transgressorsof
castes.
caste
9'
outgrowth
the
become
creed
all
over
first
India*
rebelled
againstthis
The
io
proclaimedthe gospel of
of all men,
social equality
too
present day
are
other
any
have
divided
are
strict
as
Protestant
in
more
or
to
in the Madras
compelled to
in
when
the'
Even
their observances.
Hindu
converts
of the
Roman
less ruled
by
not
to
Catholic
The
caste.
caste
overcome
it difficult
prejudice
many
years
presidency,
clergymenwere
different cups
use
as
caste
caste
found
missionaries,
likewise,
earlydays
among
ago,
subjectto
Hindus
members
Christianity,
the
at
disciples
million
proved
caste"
Hindus.
not
the
as
Over
Church, are
Their
orthodox
Mahomedans
"
but
much
as
are
Woman.
Hindu
High-Caste
they
for each
celebrated
the
rate
sepa-
lord's
Supper.
The
Vedas
to
be
believed
are
the
Word
eternal,self-existing
God, revealed by
the Vedas
five books
du
by the devout Hin-
Him
to different sages.
there
of sacred
are
more
than
law, ascribed
to
of
sides
Be-
twentydifferent
High-Caste
The
12
Woman.
Hindu
II.
CHAPTER
CHILDHOOD.
the code
ALTHOUGH
is
equal
be founded
son
all
a
children,
that
therefore
that
blessings
son
a
equalityto
through
cannot
be
garded
re-
that
of
superiority
is the most
Hindu
gle
sin-
ix.,130),
the statement
establishes the
code
the ancient
male
passage
exception to
an
Manu
ter
daugh-
upon
; the
as
son," (See
declares
expressly
the context
her
to
"
it is written
in which
passage
contains
of Manu
craves, for it is
familythat
of
coveted
by
the father is
redeemed.
"Through
son
lie conquers
the
worlds, through
Childhood.
son's
he
son
obtains
but through
immortality,
is
There
of male
If
should
"
is
man
the
it
sonless,
son's
thought
else ;
to
use
in
sons,
in
salvation.
daughter
the
the
there
of
son
next
India when
elders and
thy
of
world,
"
girl
priests,
"Mayst thou
husband
survive
blessingthe deity is
have
to
be
for they
daughters,
the property of
besides,a daughter is
be of any
stands
to
wish
seldom
very
the
may
the form
invoked
never
are
In
even
these words
that he
ix. 139.
salutes
woman
of
son
Southern
and
Western
obtain
no
Manu,
son.'1"
son's
has
is destitute
2.
son
difference ; for
who
son's
grandfather,through
the
and
son
no
him
daughter saves
or
to his
son
her
ix.,137.
who
is desirable
daughter,for
In
(inHeaven)
man
grandfather
may
Between
like the
his
""Manx,
sun
"
have
whom
of the
offspring."Vasisktha,xvii.
placeof
the
world
place for
no
to the
not
somebody
supposed to
Although it is necessary
age.
of
that
the
race
the
world, it
If
a
unfortunately
daughtersand
no
of such
wife
happens
son,
Manu
to
boys,
have
authorizes
all
the
supersedeher
to
woman
eleventh
the
in
another
that of the
exceed
should
means
into
born
their number
is desirable that
no
with
be
girlsshould
some
by
husband
Woman.
High-CasteHindu
The
14
year
their
of
*
marriage.
In
no
with
and
care
childbirth as
of
on
in India*
winningher
her
In
husband
the
most
approach of
her
cases
to herself
hope
hangs solely
bearingsons.
Women
richest
anxiety on
laden
so
of
the
poorest as
families,are
to
almost
well
as
of
the
subjected
invariably
are
the sad
and
stories
heart-rending
heard
unhappy women
favor
the
lipsof
by bringingforth daughtersonly,or by
having no
a
who
from
sorrowful
childhood
When
scene
that I witnessed in my
about
*See
shall I forget
page 61,
Childhood.
accompanied my
liarem
where
visit.
The
whom
mother
they
Prince
blessed with
of her
two
had
been
had
sons,
sister to
and
invited
eldest
of
was
to
pay
having
of
been
the favorite
course
face beamed
her
husband, and
royal
wives, three
four
childless. The
were
with
happiness.
We
shown
were
into
the
royal bed-chamber,where
contentment
a
the
to
this
was
brightness
sad and
were
for them
hope
and
oh ! what
presentedin
Their
; there seemed
careworn
iu this
the
peace
faces
no
with them,
displeased
was
signsof
conspicuous.But
were
contrast
and
nursery
on
of their
account
misfortune.
A
that her
birth to
sec
and
friend of mine
lady
her
told
in Calcutta
warned
her not
husband
had
the
girl,
firsttime,ot he would
face
also,she
had
give
never
this wife
again,but happilyfor
to
me
two
sons
family
before the
daughtercame.
In, the
there
another woman,
the sister-in-lawof
was
same
The
first-born had
friend,whose
my
She
I wa*it
Poor
have
-wife,
food
are
drudge
is
have
in order
to convert
Rosaries
to
such
ornaments,
the
show
she should
bad
be
save
tence
exismade
Not
un-
luck attends
mothers
superstitious
attempt
catastrophe,
child into
by mothers
scanty
boy, if
happily
un-
'girl.
used
to pray
no
another
and
wear
household.
poor
the unborn
it be
to
that
asserted,
avert
to
and
whole
advent, and
girl's
notified by
been
supersededby
necessary
of the
it
frequently,
a
be
husband,
son,
in bearing
persisted
clothes
coarse
which
of
the
should
eat, should
to
those
! she had
that if she
daughtersshe
this time
-woman
husband
her
have
house, constantlybesought me
the
to
ter.
daugh-
favor,and when
her husband's
to foretell whether
son
been
longed unceasinglyto
to win
in order
Woman.
High-CasteHindu
sons
roots
are
cured
pro-
celebrated
sw^l*
eagerlyand regularly
are
of
worshipped. There
is a curious ceremony,
Childhood*
ored with
the
administered
and
the
the
the
to
fourth
"
sacrament,
which
between
mother
month
of
purpose
"
of
name
her
of
the
is
third
for,
pregnancy
convertingthe embryo
into
boy.
In
spite of
into
come
all these
Hindu
households
or
and
under
often
her
more
such
birth
both
and
"
which
asserts
and
case
there
itself not
overcomes
popular custom.
her
daughter.
by
very
And
love
after
and
derness
ten-
parent's heart
with
the
own
of her
is
custom, is still
cruel
Especiallymay
Hindu
sweet
affection,
maternal
unwelcome,
not
parents lavish
blunted
strong in the
this be the
the birth of
After
upon
modified
ill-luck,or
as
mothers
circumstances,
have
to
it
girls are
sons
long
precautions girlswill
neither
and
male
strong, before
n
female,
nor
unfrequentlyin
Hindu
selfishness and
false
loving mother
homes,
fear
will
happinessby braving
lord,afcd
will
That
mother.
treat
the
her
of
fice
sacri-
pleasur
dislittle
The
the
daughter as
tany country
dark
the
might
be
side is too
In
home.
of her.
proud
alas !
But
passed
be
conspicuousto
"world ; the
the
at
The
poor
adherence
to
manifest
the
occurrence
all that is
babe
their
going
The
on
and
soon
does
caused
a
rections
in all di-
phenomenon.
her, for
around
time
of
at
relatives because
of the
herself
infantile needs
daughter,
happilyunconscious
birtlfcimayselfishly
avenge
disregardto
noses
of such
mother, who
her husband
into the
is born
tion
disgustand indigna-
their
is
cruel
to
greatlydistressed
is
mother
neighbors turn
innocent
least
by
to learn
and
shadowed
child
a
prejudice,
and
custom
If
woman
in silence.
over
she
Such
of all treasures.
best
truly praiseworthyin
is
heroism
Woman.
High-CasteHindu
such
and
a
by
girl's
ing
show-
slighting
mother
the
understand
girlis
born
how
or
why
she is
injustice,
after her
brother's
death,
High-CasteHindu
The
20
If there is
the
boy remainingin
and
caresses
who
by servants,
girlis made
share her
she
is
lavished
praisesare
brother's
the
occasion the
every
right
no
good fortune,and
unwelcome, unbidden
an
even
fully sympathizewith
to
family,all
and
by parents and neighbors,
him
poor
the
sweet
and
gifts,the blessings
upon
Woman.
that
guest in the
family.
Brothers,in
of their
proud
better than
their
own
superiorsex
what
and
most
they see
It is not
slipof
what
to
remind
is
with
by
a
rare
should
or
boy. Subjectedto
girlsbecome
are
some
and
to
hear
know
no
concerning
qualities.
They,
despisegirlsand
thing to
they can
their sisters'
hear
mere
should
not
do,
and
sullen,morbid
he
most
humiliation,
and
dull.
There
burn
%and
indignation,
burst out
in their
own
Childhood.
childish
and
given
in
to
come
that
even
do
shout, they
done
commit
mostly
six
or
seven
years
their
help
in
taking care
the
modern
of age
mothers
caste
girls
they,play
about
are
or
strictness of
to
riage.
mar-
have
therefore,
reason
work,
regard
may,
this
no
popular
children.
in
system
From
or
little
in household
earlier the
that
not
of the younger
already guessed
homes.
the
themselves,and
readers
Intelligent
bottom
soon
ally
gener-
and
prayers
memory,
mentioned
have
are
manner
to
to
left to
in whatever
often
are
little
Having
few
not
they laugh,they
freely,and
them.
education, except
are
they
unpleasant speechesare
upon
to
them
about
when
merry
will
they
be
to
Children,however,
so.
run
if
brothers
going
are
that
them,
wrong
showered
soon
and
to
forgetthe
they
marriage,
see
entreated
songs
tell their
eloquence; they
cousins
21
to
lies at
girlsin
of the
tormented
the
Hindu
ter's
daughinces-
The
22
High- Caste
riage
Marof their position.
responsibilities
the
is the
girlof
ceremonies.
high
Poverty in
than
two
daughtersin
all
relatives,
his
are
the
wife
and
either
through ignoranceor
and
of whom
widowed
the nearest
very
often
depend upon
these,there
family priests,
beggars d.nd
religious
others, who
expect much
fettered
hand
and
customs
which
threaten
he
bered,
remem-
in Hindu
own
man
many
his
also
work
least.
; if there
be
of the house
to feed
their families
idleness,
one
not
family,his
it should
For,
the bread-winner
in the
great that
so
of
diture
expen-
an
is
is inevitable.
unable
marriage
are
more
ruin
India
The*
tivities
fes-
all Hindu
family involves
caste
hundred
of two
are
of
expensive
most
and
fathers
Woman.
santly with
and
Hindu
foot
from
him.
Thus,
by barbarouslycruel
to
striphim
of everything
him
has, starvation and death staring
face,the
wretched
father of many
girls
Childhood.
is
truly an
that
the
23
every
neglectof
this
be
given
duty
in
marriage;
father
for the
means
"
unpardonablesin,publicridicule
this is not
But
be
must
within
The
of
of years
this in
the custom
of
high
clan
will
even
one
the same,
never
part by
have
served
ob-
prejudicefor
clan
have
of
Brahman
marry
and
He
of
taking advantage
polygamy.
of it
India
despitepoverty ; they
hundred
business
girl
period,the
be
must
Eastern
their
successfully
done
The
communicati
ex-
Brahmans
hundreds
all.
but
equal or superior,
to
inferior,
caste
fixed
caste
and
married
and
fiftygirls. He
goes
and
up
or
makes
down
the
land
their
parents,and
good-bye
he
never*
Brahtnan
care-
of
to
returns
^need not
immediately thereafter
the
brides ;
them.
to
bother
supportingso
many
ding
bid-
going home,
The
himself
illustrious
with
wives,
for
the
the
Hindu
High-Caste
The
24
daughterall
married
if
life,
her
virginto
for him
to
is useful to the
has
In
in
work
is
the
of the
a
this form
among
the
of the
non-Brahman
of
cannot
caste,a
daughters.
and
from
or
Caste
and
Rajputsof
Central
North
India,who
ter's
daugh-
member
is not
man
to
exist
not
receive
friends ; he
clan
the
high clan.
polygamy does
the
his
Kshatriyas,because,as
others,except
his
society
;
for himself
gods,since
to Beg
by religion,
father
thereby having
ridicule of
Brahman
of
the
having given
marriage, and
brightmansions
from
cult
is it diffi-
nor
But
requiredto
; moreover,
escapeddisgraceand
husband
of
the satisfaction first^
daughter
of such
case
his means,
them
household
other
father is not
beyond
the
maintain
to
the end.
marriage as this,the
spend money
Woman.
wives
lowed
al-
gifts
therefore
or
many
prejudice
tyrannized
and
Northwestern
belong to
the
Ksha-
Childhood.
triyasor
they
warrior
caste, to such
driven
were
irreligiouscustom
into
their
society. This
the
whom
bound
they
for
are
neighborsand
boy
with
is
command
born,
If
that
announces
obey
to
that
very
care
child
home
allowed
to
was
to
things.
the
is
Rajputs
to
announced
has
father
been
girl,and
and
grave
this
coolly
born
into
is understood
that
she
world,
is
and
quiet
girlscould
many
live, the
child.
expressionit
is
gratulate
con-
by distributing
daughter, the
how
considering
tyranny
which
and
likely to be nothing in
After
in all
birth
songs
even
husband
the birth of
his
which
the
the friends go
be
formed
per-
of the
among
"nothing"
family, by
his
was
friends to assemble
music, glad
sweetmeats.
act
themselves, or
infanticide
female
universal custom
inhuman
the
cruel
fathers
the
by mothers, at
It is
of
that
extent
an
introduce
to
and
by
25
father
ly
safe-
took
good
and
clan
himself
from
caste
by killing'the
extra
girls at birth,
defend
as
easilyaccomplishedas destroying
High-CasteHindu
The
26
other
mosquito or
can
save
babe
is
opportunity?Opium
the
determined
parentsare
eagerlywatch
for
skillful pressure
known
also
"
the
as
other nameless
in
there
the
are
steal
not
to
that may
and
few
the
law,
clan
"
are
be
is
throat,
several
employed
the
unholy
system.
Then
child-thieves who
rally
gene-
even
of such
at British
neck, which
innocents upon
caste
girls;
and
intelligent
mock
methods
this
cruel task ;
There
purpose.
the
sacrificing
altar of
the
putting nail
the
answers
upon
keep
to
pillof
small
suitable
used
generally
cryingchild quiet,and
Who
insect
annoying
if the
to
Woman.
refined taste
and
almost
are
that
so
they
always steal
their hunger.
girlsto satisfy
Female
infanticide,
though
and never
by religion,
looked
not
upon
sanctioned
as
right
passedover
As
mentioned,been silently
unpunished by societyin general.
early as
1802
the
British government
The
28
High-CasteHindu
practicedbefore
the
prohibitorylaw.
As
he
to the
came
was
practice
Woman.
government
a
enacted
the
tion,
result of careful observathat this horrible
conclusion
still followed
in secret,and
to
alarmingextent/
an
The
there
Census
fewer
are
returns
which
have
female
with
sexes
among
may
imperfecttreatment
in
lack
attendance.
all
that
in India
men
this
show
the
by
causes
rical
surprisingnume-
be
named,
the
women
Chief
brought about
difference of the
1880-81
than
women
five millions.
over
of
of
after
try,
coun-
the diseases
of
of proper hygieniccare
and
medical
Married
Life.
CHAPTER
29
III.
MARRIED
IT is not
of
Hindu
begins. The
five hundred
According
and
years
to
act
of
of my
of age
years
for
high
of
is the
the
caste
era.
mum,
mini-
maximum
girl.* The
riage,
mar-
parentsare
tatl^e who
at least
the Christian
eight years
man
country, is
older than
Manu,
marriageableage
*A
life
twelve
earlier the
hood
child-
the
the married
and
girlends
not
when
determine
to
easy
aged thirtyyears
pleaseshim, or a
eightyears
of age," Manu
shall marry
man
of
ix",94*
maiden
of
twenty-foura girl
The
High-Caste
There
have
to this rule,
always been exceptions
however.
in the
eightkinds of marriages
the
Among
described
is
law, there
onlyan agreement
religious
ceremony,
no
to witness and
of
as
completelylawful
It is quiteplainfrom
not
betrothed
twelve
considered
in olden
times.
in this form if
marry
of the most
form
is this :
women
choose
Europe
and
their
America
husbandSjbut
castes
and
men
at such
an
any
other.
eight and
of
age
marriagewas
and
not
the Hindus
classes could
to do
they chose
as
well
One
so.
as
men
women
occurrence
choose
do
it is considered
women
quite
were
future spouses.
own
to be the first to
woman
regarded
free to
both
the
also that
All
third party
this is
institutionby
religious
is
between
and
years,
a,
marriageas
loyal
tionship,
agreement and rela-
the
and
that is
marriagethere
even
nor
confirm
form
one
the lovers to be
between
Woman.
Hindu
30
In
their
shame
for
and
requestmarriage,
will be shocked
; but
in
equally
India,women
Married
had
freedom
equal
least
in this
men,
without
shocking
and
being put
the
select her
until
common
D., and
even
other
party,
rfisband.
own
of
I know
form.
could
to
of his
by
of
own
the
the
accordingto
another
Mahomedan
B., had
A.
infant
could
caste, as
this
is still living;
man
caste, he
his
as
do
had
is
the act
The
the
versalizi
do in uni-
to
marriage in India.
tioned
sanc-
viour
beha-
lawless
intruders from
much
giously
reliout
with-
so
religious
ceremony
law.
Hindu
twelfth century,
many
of
he
wife,but
going through
century,
Bombay presidency
Brahman
wife, being
wedded
quite
people.
openly acknowledge
not
she been
few
firstwife of the
The
second
the
in the
woman
is married
the eleventh
as
to
now,
is practiced
by
custom
who
late
as
at
case
husband) was
Svayamvara (selecting
The
A.
31
might, without
forward
come
with
woman
shame, and
Life.
the
great
present
"ve
to
eleven
years
is the usual
period
Caste Hindu
Hig"-
The
32
for their
girlsshould
it is absurd
As
to
that
assume
their future
allowed to choose
be
all
Brahmans
the
marriage among
India*
over
Woman.
for
guardians*In
the
them
by their parents*and
northern
is
to be
and
mean
act
an
guardians to
daughtersand
Although
sons-in-law.
for
are
and
seven
well-to-do
bachelor
the
age;
even
family does
of
not
after seventeen
but
respectable
of
shame
for
able
marriagetom
popular cus-
and
ten
married
be
age.
to
girlsof
boy
of
a
a
eighteenyears
of
or
very
poor
high caste,cannot
man
twelve
generallyremain
marry
it is
to
eight years
if they are
the
man,
Boys of
law.
doomed
now
minimum
is the
young
defies the
said that
distinctly
has
Manu
twenty-fouryears
age
their future
to seek
out
go
part of parents
the
on
ting
humilia-
too
even
families,
afford to
among
to remain
them
unmarried
Married
after twenty
girlshave
voice
the
in
first
well
as
as
selection of their
the
if
marriage,but
has
33
twenty-five. Boys
or
no
at
spouses
Life.
marries
man
time, he
second
the
Although
ancient
desirable to marry
law-giversthought
girlswhen
and
quite young,
own
feelings.They
void of humane
parents and
forbidden
were
it
their
not
altogether
have
positively
guardiansto give
away
fered
of-
were
them.
"To
handsome
distinguished,
should
father
prescribedrule, though
the
she
give
"
ix.
her
to
until
'.'
attained
not
death, than
destitute of
man
woe
the law
too
It allows
but
;
in accordance
with
caste
the
the proper
that
rather
he should
good qualities.""
$9.
But, alas,here
custom.
equal
have
of
88.
age"" Manii^,
"But
suitor
some
to
the
men
is defied
to
maiden
by
cruel
remain
married,
un-
and
her
to
The
34
High-Caste
has
law
that
she
ever
have
can
wonder
of
matter
nine
that
when
anxious
eight or
and
in
merit
India, as
world, but
will
never
to
low
merits
caste
of
man
as
care
marriage.
the
daughters
be
else
caste
own
in
wealth
high
he be
high
of
pride and
own
marry
over
is
caste
his
the
as
man
daughter
millionaire.
surpasses
the
As
boys
are
too
young
i. "?.,
possessing"good qualities,"
learning,common-sense,
take
to
in one's
their sons-in-law.
pass
its
powerful
though
generallyseek boys
to
marry
rule.
condescend
wealth
But
caste
tremely
ex-
in
everywhere
this
even
nothing before
to
has
Wealth
then, a
daughtersare
unsought
are
is
unless
parents become
families.
caste
salvation
It is not,
their
Although
popularbelief
no
formally married.
be
remain
to
as
marriageableage.
woman
unfortunate
so
the
singleafter
no
is
if she
family
Woman.
Hindu
of
family, and
charrespectable
The
36
High- Caste
Hindu
for their
looking,prosperous
men
take
great
consult
both
partiesin
their
daughters;
the
order
in such
girlshall
the
is to
her, the
bad
sought for,because
is
that in that
wrestle with
always happens,
will
parties
and
husband
informed
were
each
the
that
be
fall in
wife
me
die
for this
is
if it reveals
If
sidered
con-
the
husbands
lieved
sincerelybe-
guardian planets
almost
as
the
one
her
else
and
conflict,
was
the
friend of
before
rejected
reason
match
together. A
planet. Undoubtedlymany
good
things,
widow.
other,and,
with
agreed satisfactorily
make
all
ious
anx-
it is
the
case
planet will
husband's
are
of
then
future
above
become
not
reverse,
mine
they
satisfactory
; but
very
both
cases,
and
survive
horoscopesof
the
horoscopereveals
daughter's
husband
will
the
sons-in-law,
know
to
over
ascertain,
to
that
to
care
Woman.
copes
horos-
found
which
sister's guardian
who
suitors,
might
and unworthy
rejected,
men
fall
Married
misery instead
of
source
"without
concerning
statement, his
with
and
the father
his
of age, and
take
rest
near
and
for
to bathe
day
came
he
the
dinary
extraor-
following
of his wife
the other
One
seven
town
to
morning
the
Godavari,
man
fine-looking
were
the
sacred river
saw
prayers
most
stoppedin
two.
the
the man's
age
pilgrimreligious
nine and
or
consisted
there also.
morning
of
inquired
he
the
they had
bathingin
was
coming
on
family,which
years
father
was
daughters,one
two
of
place in
took
marriagethat
social
clan, and
and
I know
inquiry
and
from
give
strangers
making
to learn
caste
of his home.
locality
manner
to
suitor's character
the
position. It is enough
own
that fathers
in
exercising care
blessing.
daughtersin marriage
their
away
of
unfrequentlyhappens
It not
37
their lot ;
to
Life.
he
and whence
also
dwelling-place,
that he
was
widower, the
The
38
the
the
day
; next
so
little
miles away
took
from
settled in
her
the
hour
an
the
possessionof
hundred
nearly nine
her home.
or
concluded,and
marriage was
girl placed in
stranger, who
Woman.
The
after the
daughter,and
lightheart
in
the
fortunately
good hands,and
for
beyond
her
who
father,
all
littlegirlhad
well and
was
but
expectation,
cared
daughter'sfate,is none
When
marriage without
few
her
to her
law
the
many
are
she
were
her
own
affection
bounds
no
knowing
be torn
; she
that in
from
away
she goes
to pay
the
solicitationsthat
stirring
toward
forbearing
of
mony
marriagecere-
mother's
in endless ways,
customary visit
tenderlycared
the conduct
the
knows
girlfrequently
lovingembrace.
fallen
indulgesher
so
for the
the
she will be
as
kind
daughter. The
souland
though
boy's inotltefc
Married
is moved
at
heart,and
she
this
littlebride.
Life.
time,for
promises to
the
On
she
be
has
a
day fixed
39
woman's
mother
for the
marriage,
boy
who
priests
them
man
fire and
of relatives and
"Neither
by
sale
her husband
I^"rd of
creatures
Marriage is
to
the
presumedthat
must
the
know
the
of old.'*
Manu
we
"
only
the texts
she
The
are
law
Henceforth
to
wife
dissolu
in-
released
be which
the
tered
adminis-
accompaniedwith
It is to
texts.
introduced
him
the
no
be
in honor
sacrament
without
the
cred
sa-
girlis his,not
riage
mar-
ix.,46.
marries,for
to
Sacrament"
caste woman,
administered
formulae.
of the Vedic
whom
man
be
made
high
utterance
of the
; such
pronounce
is henceforth
by repudiationis
nor
by
of the sacred
friends.
from
and
to the
united
people are
the
to
nearest
40
"For
alone."
husband, and
"
The
girlnow
his
by
kind
of
merit
or
assumes,
like
Many
the
be
is united
woman
of
in
girlswhen
innocentlyanswer
great pains
to
; children
gorgeous
the
no
is one
whom
even
qualities
she
-Manu
ix., 22,
in fun
ther
whe-
be married would
affirmative.
their sisters,
cousins
pleasure. Even
have
with
man
asked
to
soon
in
; the occasion
with
the
marriage,such
like
is
she
can
our
was
own.
qualitiesof
lawful
they would
see
She
impersonalbeing.
"Whatever
some
that
by the firstname
her
clan ;
qualityof
husband
in
and
familyname,
to the
the husband's
given her by
not
bride is
3.
belongs to
she is known
often
tliat
given
Woman.
or
long to
They
ried
playmatesmar-
be remembered
make
it
enjoyit
most
pleasant to
of all.
body
every-
There
are
beau*
dresses',
bright colored clothes,
Married
tiful
Life.
decorations,
music,
plenty of
fruit and
is illuminated
things to
sweet
with many
tempting
more
to
ride
of fun.
Is
I shall ride
Oh,
the
thinks
peoplein
much
will make
me,
and
caress
girlof
mother,
me
bed, ^nd
elephant!
will wait
on
fun I"
what
"Oh,
ill,"said
be
darling?"
like to
child?
everybody will
cold,and
sorts
something more
surprise."Oh,
little girl,"I
the
in
in
of
"Why,
four.
for
the house
try to pleaseme.
like to have
"I
there is
and
all
the
of
back
the
on
girl;
newly-married
the
grand enough
it not
these?
than
processionamidst
in
be
can
times
hig elephantis some-
which
brought, on
to
house
the whole
child's mind
and
eat
lamps. What
children
fireworks,fun,
songs,
and
lovelyflowers,
give away,
41
asked
her
because," replied
eat
my
breakfast
on
me!"
Who
and
even
has
not
heard
such
remarks
over
laughed heartily
them?
of
as
these,
Children
being waited
like
on.
42
The
What
wonder, then,if
High-Caste
married
for the
coveted
!
privilege
farewell
girlslike being
enjoying that
after
comes
to be
laughter,and
married
the
to
of
be
can
fun
that
girl'sheart,for
no
she
Free
pleases,never
social
excites
when
the
bothered
in
and
young
of
Hindu
out
caste
worried
or
in
babyhood.
where
or
other
by lesson-
knitting,loved,
spoiledby parents,
sisters,uncles
desire
the
marriage takes
by
learning,sewing, mending
from
life of
relatives,
in and
to go
never
restrictions,
petted and
bid
except the
reason
is,indeed,the heyday
life.
woman's
must
free
nearest
fun.
by her
home
there
enjoyment
the
she
when, through superstition,
is ill-treated at
otherwise
poor
ment,
mother, to noisy merri-
and
enjoyment. Sometimes
pure
much-
these
little do
But
what
to home
and
the
Hindu
do
Little
Woman.
of
sake
know
innocents
Hindu
brothers
and
ent
aunts, she is little differcolt whose
days
lo, all
are
at
spent
once
High-Caste Hindu
The
44
Woman.
one
to
her
to
go
begin
with ; she
husband's
pier
hap-
being forced
not
home
until
is
she
about
The
thirteen
fourteen years
or
of age.
jointfamilysystem, which
is
of the
one
of Eastern countries,
is very deeply
peculiarities
rooted
in the
soil of
be
unfrequently
under
one
India.
found
roof. The
four
house
There
generationsliving
is divided
The
court.
windows,
men's
Houses
houses,as
and
court
is
the
placesare
She
women
have
of
darkness reignsperpetually.
does
not
the
the child-bride is
confined.
few
common.
court
house,where
There
but
usually dark
are
cities. Men
nothingin
The women's
the inner
and
comparatively
lightand good.
in country
in the crowded
almost
they
into two
rule,have
not
may
brought to
enter
new
her
be
forever
husband's
home, but
rather
members, and
to
occupy the
Married
humblest
positionin
bride's
young
of
discipline
talk
the
is
spirits
this
male
distant
India,where
bride
all
into
these
them, when
where
she
where
women,
they need
not
show
respect
and
remain
obligedto
be
them
duties.
of age
These
as
enter
In
to
it, or
to
respect
apartment
an
Southern
not
India,
veils,
wear
they rise
their
long
to
husbands,
they
as
are
in their presence.
household
of
work,
thorough knowledge
children
find it irksome
long without
show
rule, do
elders and
young
face with
their faces ;
cover
to
be.
standing
all kinds
give
veils,the
to
band,
hus-
In Northern
so.
her
mothers-in-law
The
in
as
do
persons
before
or
brother-in-law,
wear
room
happens to
never
speak
never
to
covers
another
must
relatives of her
women
woman
or
She
elder
unless commanded
runs
abode.
new
45
an
father and
other
any
the
laugh loudly,must
or
to
or
Life.
the
hope
in
order
of domestic
of nine
or
to work
hard
of
to
ten
years
all
hearing a word
day
of
girl is scolded
for
of
words
silently
accepted,
of the littleones
In
then
sorrowful
I must,
her
Many
of their
sons
do
them
tified
thus,mor-
seek
tears
they
console
to
miss
in silence,
the
dear
lovingsympathy.
of them
as
their
brides
children ; many
own
temper and
not
treatment
; such
seem
be
to
mean
having themselves
torment
hours
sive
abu-
are
but ignorant
affectionate,
; they easily
lose their
they
tional
for inten-
in-law.
kind and
; the faults
of
artillery
the
distressed,
they
and
mother
it is
encouragement and
by sheddingbitter
such
done,
well
themselves
she
often mistaken
are
and
offences,
and
mistake
demoralizingthem
children and
rule,the
ing
being regardedas spoil-
the elders
praisefrom
every
be
work
; if the
commits
As
the mother-in-law.
praisefrom
little
Woman.
High-Caste Hindu
The
46
been
to
so.
be hard when
Others
the child
one
again,
will do
all $he
hearted
hardcan
to
Married
by beating her
and
neighbors. Often
this
Life.
her
slandering
she is not
but induces
herself,
wives
young
her.
join
to
son
husbands
47
satisfied by
and
have
before the
doing
the
encourages
several
times
seen
shamefullybeaten by beastlyyoung
who
cherished
natural
no
love
for
them.
As
have
we
without
and
or
after it the
be
the
couple
must
mutual
attachment
such
never
being
and
betray
before
be
forming attachment,the
their
relationship
; and
this,the
ypuug
ways,
mother-in-law
man
to
it is not
torment
of their
der
party. Unand
meet
easilyunderstood
chief
the
do. not
cases
many
if in the midst
beginsto
in
most
allike
of all
encourage
wife
his
of
means
couple are
young
strange that
speak
the young
seldom
they
party,
to
sign
third
cluded
con-
until after
then
any
off from
strangers,and in
allowed
even
therefore
cut
either
the husband
circumstances
talk ; it may
of
bride is not
acquaintedwith
is
marriage
consent
that
the
seen,
the^
various
feelingakin
to
High-Caste
48
The
hatred
takes root
thirteen
in my
house
for
presence
did
that she
as
between
there
like
not
at her
is in
couplethat
her
well
so
husband
in his
home.
own
India
would
of all these
happy
many
be
honor
complain of except
an
the
from the
drawbacks,
and
nation.
brightenedby
nothing to
of
freedom
since wives
beginningwhat
is,they are
generallywell
in
bondage;
there
as
the
loving
to any
absence
child of
be
to
mutual
never
by
thfe conjugalrelation is
Where
of
spite,however,
In
them.
cruellybeaten
was
Woman.
Hindu
freedom
to
content
remain
such
is,however, no
have
thing
Men
spend
hours with
their
eveningsand
friends of their
or
own
from
away
other
sex,
home.
leisure
either in
Children
to
of father and
by going in
but
made
the
children
happy by
and
out
of young
the
when
mother
nately,
alter-
they choose,
parents are
father's caresses
never
or
any
Married
of
the
elders
children
his
the
desty prevents
to
of
demonstration
other
had
what
her
freely.
their
theirs, and
lord
may
the
young
Life.
the
please
49
in
love
his
of
father
from
wife,
to
of
after
as
leave
mod-
speaking
women
meals
sence
pre-
false
notion
The
the
on
the
men
rule,
his
the
eats
plate.
CHAPTER
PLACE
WOMAN'S
THE
"
IV.
AND
RELIGION
IN
commands
religion
Hindu
Women
Woman.
High-Caste Hindu
The
50
"be honored
must
and
adorned
by their fathers,
who
brothers-in-law,
brothers,husbands, and
SOCIETY.
desire their
welfare."
own
"
but
Where
where
honored,there
are
women
they
honored,
not
are
the
gods'are pleased;
sacred
no
rite
yields
rewards,"
soon
not
"
relations live in
female
the
"Where
family where
they
are
prospers."
ever
houses
that
grief,the family
on
honored, pronounce
which
female
stroyed
as if decurse,, perishcompletely,
by magic,"
"Hence
honor
women
of) ornaments,
"
In that
who
men
seek
on
own
holidaysand
clothes and
family where
their
welfare,should
festivals with
ways
al-
(gifts
dainty food,"
the husband
is
pleasedwith
hi"
The
52
High-Caste
is the
mother
The
'hold. She
Woman.
Hindu
queen
generallyobeyed
the
of
head
the
as
is
there,and
family
'
by
her
and
sons
there is
But
should
not
be
studied
in
the
with
few
that
not
her
daughters-in-law.
side to the shield that
reverse
left unobserved.
of
laws
Manu,
about
having brought
is best
all
Hindus,
as
women
tliyteacher his
to
cut
This
believe implicitly
what
exceptions
law-giver
says
After
do
by
reward,
proper
(i.e. Do,
not
remain
unmarried).
Do
not
swerve
from
the truth.
Do
not
swerve
from
duty.
Do
not
neglectwhat
Do
not
Do
not
and
is useful.
due
to
the
gods
fathers.
Let
thy
mother
Let
thy
Let
thy
teacher
Let
thy guests
Whatever
be to thee
be to thee
be to thee
actions
are
like unto
blameless
god.
like unto
like unto
god.
god.
a
a
god
those
should
be
re*
should
be
good
works
observed
have
been
by thee,
Upamshad, Valli,,i.An.
si,
i,
not
2.
performed by
others."
"
us
Taittiriya
In
is
"It
the
only
slave
"
they
"
even
of desire
and
do
not
on
give
anger."
the
to
women
is the
in the law
be
hood
their
itself."
then- mutable
law
impure
ix.,
Ix"rd of
the
to
allotted
and
of
and
is
guard
to
tures
crea-
love
sires,
de-
impure
conduct"
bad
is
settled;
performed with
women
destitute of the
as
man
them."
women
ornament,
rite
who
are
knowledge
that
falsehood itself,
is
of
a
14-18.
opinion of
men
concerning all
Manu
with
regard women,
own
ugly."
carefully they
however
sacramental
all
; and
through
man,'
to the
and
himself
Manu
seat
the
as
is
he
at the
strength and
are
attention
their
that
which
disposition,
texts, thus
texts,
this world."
no
women
not
heartlessness,they become
husbands,
bed, of their
Such
in
him
make
to
is
nor
handsome
their
their
destitute of
Vedic
unguarded
and
enough
is
sacred
this
in
men
ri.,213-214.
for men,
creating them,
"For
never
beauty,
strenuously exert
most
of their
are
Manut
natural
laid in them
"When
seduce
man,
their
guarded in
"Knowing
should
"
for
care
their passion
disloyaltowards
be
learned
themselves
through
temper,
to
lead
to
thinking 'it
age;
Through
may
able
are
fool,but
Women
fixed
wise
the
reason
women
women
53
of females."
company
"For
of
nature
Religionand Society.
mothers, "as
more
even
or
less faith
though they
impure
as
fake-
"And
in the
Vedas,
of
'
"
; hear
women
father
my
distrust and
Such
and
nature
such
in India.
the
be denied.
by
the
the household
"Bay and
"
sensual
control
Her
woman
"Women
of
the
law
is
general,is
sixth
their
greatly
that it
century, B,c.,
relatives are
must
at
women
has
deprivethe
to
man's
wo-
intensely
tyrannical
All male
be
and
families,
enjoyments, they
manded
com-
of
women
:"
kept in dependence
if
they
must
be
attach
selves
them-
kept under
"
in
invasion ; but
night women
males
her
a
about
20.
custom
become
me,'
from
of seclusion of
Mahomedan
existed from
one's
refer to
estimate of
low
'This mischievous
to
position
dis-
seed
ix.,19,
character
the
the true
which
texts
that
keep
Manu
text"-"
scriptural
that is the
by
also
their sins."
illicitdesires,may
cannot
those
now
chanted
conceived
mother, going astray and unfaithful,
If my
since
are
fully known
to make
order
in
of
expiation
the
sacred texts
to
Woman.
Hindu
High-Caste
The
54
youth, and
never
must
fit for
her
her husband
childhood,
sons
tects
pro-
""Maw
independence.
ix.,2,
be guarded againstevil
particularly
3.
in-
In
Religionand Society.
however
clinations,
guarded, they
not
are
"Considering
weak
they
trifling
husbands
that
"will bnng
the
sorrow
they
families."
two
on
all castes,
of
highest duty
strive to
must
for if
appear;
may
55
guard their
wives."
even
Manu
"
ix.,5, 6.
*'
No
they
man
be
can
guarded by
expedients:
"Let
and
completely guard
can
the
husband
employ
Manu
of
ix.,10,
recognizethe
those
make
To
employ
her
keeping
her
sils."
uten-
impartiallyread
in
of
to
be
is forbidden
she has
out
low
no
rightto
of them.
kind
to
kindred
and
the
only
mischief,the
of
To
desire
to
means
blessed
She
of
one
as
housekeeping
out
fail
their best
done
being in
occupationsis thought
of
tion
prepara-
cannot
original,
have
hateful
woman
the
the household
law-giverManu
who
hundreds
keeping everything
n.
and
diligently
who
collection
the
religiousduties,in
looking after
in
in
his wife
wealth, in
his
of
food,and
Those
following
*
"
of the
employment
the
but
"
expenditure
of his
by force
women
her
her*
scriptures,
ble
single syllauncultivated,
by giving her
ornaments
her
adorn
to
Hindu
High- Caste
The
56
which
to
the
Hindu
Wife,the
is
fit for
never
impure
of the
trusted ; matters
be
be
to
committed
can
have
to
read
never
of
sacred
book
about
here
and
there
such
words
after
crime
and
more
from
and
kind
word
a
me
literature is
by
no
towards
respectful
the ethical
also
never
kind
of hateful
about
contain
them, but
heartless
a
mockery*
class,with
evil deeds.
Profane
or
women.
to
to
in Sanscrit
True, they
sentiment
seem
never
that
truthfully,
meeting this
is
her*
any
literature without
is "as
importance are
honestlyand
say
ter
daugh-
and
independence,
She
She,
devoted
affectionate
"
falsehood itself.
as
highest honors
nation,the
sister and
tender
bow
is entitled.
woman
loving mother
occasional
an
the
nothing,are
costs
by giving her
and
person,
daintyfood togetherwith
which
Woman.
few
means
less
women.
teachings,
partsof
proverbs:
"
severe
quote
catechism
Religionand Society.
In
What
A.
The
is cruel?
is
Q. What
A.
The
Hindu
heart
moral
on
of
subjectswritt
high literaryre
"
A.
is the
woman.
like wine?
bewitches
Q. What
woman.
Q. Who
be
sonless,pennilesswidow.
What
A.
of all "
cruelest
of
that?
woman.
gentleman
A.
of
catechism
says
cruel than
is the
The
viper.
more
heart
Q. What
A.
of
heart
He
wisest
is the
has
who
compared
Q.
What
A.
Women.
not
of the
been
Women.
What
A.
Women.
by
women
fetters to men?
is that which
A.
deceived
malignant fiends.
to
are
Q. What
wise ?
cannot
be
trusted?
appears
like
ne
PROVERBS.
"Never
put your
"Women's
"Woman
place of
trust in women."
counsel
is
leads to destruction."
vices, full of
a
deceits,
hindrance
in tl
The
58
Woman.
Hindu
High-Caste
woman's
about
proceedto
now
such
religion.Virtues
woman's
state
ness,
truthful-
as
purity of heart
forbearance, fortitude,
"
are
uprightness,
and
understood,has
distinct
two
and
duties,privileges
has its
also
religion
The
given
in
husband
as
through him,
things,never
do
covet
to
anything but
law
and
now
one,
By
"
To
look
him
to
is
only
in all
never
independence,
that which
be
her
upon
for salvation
obedient
the duties of
Manu
law-giver,
"
feminine
to
approved by
custom.
"Hear
own
be
to
peculiar
god, to hope
the
peculiarities.
words:
few
in
own
The
honors.
and substance
sum
commonly
the feminine.
its
religionhas
masculine
is
and
men
natures
and
Hindu
The
the word
as
religion,
but
women,
to
common
girl,by
nothing must
house."
women,"
says the
:
"
young
be
done
woman,
or
even
by
independently,
even
an
aged
in her
The
60
High-Caste
Hindu
disgracedin
of
is
tormented
husband, a wife
her
jackal,and
Woman.
she
is
the wotub
enters
by diseases,the punishment
of her sin."
"She
who" controlling
ner
never
in
"
heaven, and
reward
In
of such
thoughts,speech
and
renown,
Manu
"
"
in
only is
He
and
the
v.,
called
is
after death
who
actions,gams
this life
world
next
The
wife
propertyn
"cows,
MARITAI,
RIGHTS.
perfectman
who
learned
of her
wife is
with
"For
one
hates him
,
her
of her
but
her
near
consists
his
band."
hus-
of three
sons
per-
offspring;thus
Brahmanas
propound this
is declared to be
to
be
husband,and
female
one
with
"
the
marital
is classed with
falo-cows
bufcamels,slave-girls,
ewes.""
(SeeMamt
ix.,
aversion
year
highest
ix.,45.
and
she-goats
The
place
and
is declared
mares,
in
controls her
164-166.
Veda, and
her husband
conduct, a female
likewise,'The husband
maxim
with
deeds,
wife."
virtuous
and
thoughts,words
let
after
"
a
a
property and
husband
lapseof
cease
bear
a
with
wife who
to live with
her,"
deprive
Religionand Society.
In
"She
who
to
shall be
shows
passion,is
evil
some
for three
deserted
her ornaments
"She
disrespectto
and
be
time
"
she
superseded by
barren
wife
only daughters in
"
wife
her
off in the
"Though
form, he
But
;
and
he
have
been
no
such
on
the
revere
be
"
if she be
her husband
to
accepted
contrary, she
evil
as
Manu
"
made
ix.,
diseased,
or
ix.,72.
Mann
of
though
seek
good
passion,fond
with
remain
-god,even
virtue,and
83.
in due
damsel
blemished
must
devoid
be
some
quarrel-
instantlyconfined
be
destitute of
is
departs from
anger
"
provisionis
elsewhere, or
addicted
her
bears
who
family."
of the
have
may
abandon
either
must
presence
man
may
if she
and
house,
who
"
husband's
cast
or
she
eleventh,but
delay." Manu
without
any
eighth year,
the
tenth, she
the
all die in
the
at
wife."
supersededin
be
of
conduct,
wasteful, may
or
another
may
children
whose
of bad
spirituousliquor,is
diseased, mischievous
rebellious,
deprived
ix.,77, 78.
Mann
"
diseased,
or
be
and
months,
furniture."
drinks
who
drunkard,
is addicted
who
husband
61
of
pleasure
qualities,
spirituous
or
diseased, and what not I
liquors
much
How
justiceis shown
impartial
"
treatment
of womankind
understood
fairly
after
by
Hindu
readingthe
law,
above
in the
can
be
quota-
Woman.
Hindu
HigfaCaste
The
62
by the community
over
power
British rule,the
in the
as
golden
his absolute
suffered in
age, take
least
suit againsther
bring,
claim
to
his
his
to
cannot
has
of
property,"if
him
by
not
bound
now
in the courts
to
she
house, but
person
is
He
"marital
submit
unwillingto
of
dition
con-
^herwhenever
her
over
power
the
better
no
be
may
is in
woman
of old.
than
nothing but
under
Now,
protest
do
utteringa word
submit
absolute
had
husband
enforced
were
to
justice
she
be,
other
any
means.
her
near
relative of mine
childhood
in
her
in her
had
the
than
boy
where
was
been
marriage to
had
own
given in
boy
whose
stayand be educated
home.
No
marriage ceremony
ever,
how-
sooner
been
cluded
con-
taken
to
he remained
the
home
t"*grow
up
of his parents
to be
worth-
In
less
Religionand Society.
dunce, while
and
his wife
advanced
into
views
bright young
the
through
of her
63
ness
kind-
oped
father,develand
woman
well
accomplished.
Thirteen
claim
his
send
to
who
the
later,
years
the
wife, but
support and
had
wish
no
living,and
honest
to
with
go
him
the
love
neither
why
reason
saw
no
her
husband
her
and
and
case
was
favor, according to
*In
and
all
cases
except
unable
The
wife
should
he
he
Hindu
those
too,
a
she
be
him
with
law.*
is bottnd
who
follow
worthless
to
her
sue
of
due
tice.
Jusmony
cere-
the man's
The
directlyconntcted
ber
num-
not
given in
was
to
was
British Court
examined
the verdict
sense
community
to enable
parents in the
The
beggar
circumstances
wife
collected funds
man,
was
since
the
though
even
heart
respect him.
nor
people in
of orthodox
no
the
nor
to
came
parents had
the power
posseted neither
an
'man
darlingdaughter with
their
to make
young
wife
with
life
according to
The
64
High-Caste
doomed
was
she
the
cholera.
by
with
go
who
put
end
an
their
committingsuicide.
wife
and
the
gods
of
Rakhmabai,
under
the
of
thing
well-educated
suffer
justice
same
her
lady, who
with
are
has
lately
class.
is that
was
of her
The
she
is
brought
and
father,
the inhabitants of
laws ; judicial
decisions
that
society,is only
the
about
loving care
interfere with
the
men.
thousands
remarkable
and
rarity
to
who
women
the
band
hus-
for their
India,owing
profoundly agitatedHindu
one
women
law between
at
of
that
the
of
case
in
conduct
silently,
knowing
The
Many
cial,
so-
earthly sufferings
by
Suits
British Courts
always favor
persecutedby
remarkable
are
submissive
ever
thus
country,
our
nate
the unfortu-
State laws.
to
be said of
may
among
are
and
religious
to
this sorrowful
Whatever
unwelcome
not
are
women
Fortunately
they
in
him.
from
released
soon
was
world
to
Woman.
Hindu
up
had
India,not
customs
religious
given accordingly.
and
In
Religionand Society.
learned from
him
the
of social and
assaults
But
as
soon
claimed
be
against her
in
to
go
that the
her
the
such.
Mr.
in the
first
of
the
India
over
their loins
and
the
her
the
of
allegedhusband
threateningthe
force the
the
husband
sums
were
stand
British
if
displeasure
the
collected
live
Upon
party
and
girded
They encouraged
his
to
for
of
helplesswoman
it failed to
according to
case
to
will.
ground firmly,
government
woman
as
sense
lady
man
friends.
to
without
conservative
one
denounce
to
handful
to
as
ground
tried the
against her
rose
the
on
sufficient
force
to
The
legallyconsidered
instance,had
husband
suit
ing
declinherself,
concluded
was
be
not
refuse
who
man
Bombay.
man
the
justiceto
her
religiousbigotries.
court
live with
could
against
husband, brought
marriage that
her consent
with
herself
bravelydefended
woman
to
to defend
as
to
young
how
65
lic
pub-
keep
its agreement
to
live with
go
Hindu
the
with
law.
benefit
Large
of
this
the
decision
the
horror
the Hindu
this
in
Bombay, March
judged by
written
letter
of
by
my
herself,bearing date
Rakhmabai
friend
lower
painfultermination
The
laws.
the
to
case
merits,as
its
on
trial,I have
dear
the
back
for re-trial
appealagainst
people, the
right-thinking
all
of
to
bench, whereupon, to
the full
to
sent
chief-justice
court
him
enable
Dadajee,to
man,
Woman.
High-CasteHindu
The
66
her
i8th,1887.
quote from
civilized
letter :
"
The
learned
determined
enacted
They
ago.
live with
to
the
the
of the
costs
decision I
Are
not
cast
this
Mr.
into
the
extraordinary
impartialBritish
Queen-Empress Victoria,
friend, I
prison when
I do
the
pay
dear
My
the State
under
is
better
no
Hindu
opinion that
a
by
of this
to
go
not, and
shall
been
have
obey the
cannot
you
order
of
Justice Farran.
"There
be
ruled
woman?
is because
think
boasts of
to
me
obliged me
have
living under
not
we
and
herself
also
dispute. Just
which
we
but
human
in-
thousand
times, four
only commanded
are
the
enlightened age,
barbaric
not
man,
government,
are
in
have
judges
this
enforce, in
to
laws
years
and
my
condition
hope
rule
case
for
for
women
or
British rule ;
so
in
India,whether
some
cruellydecided, may
woman
are
they
of
the
bring about
by turningpublicopinionin
68
The
High-Caste Hindu
and
powers
of
principalities
would
Mammon
and
British
matter
if that
sacrifice of the
ancient
surely
profit and
rule
endangered thereby.
no
Woman.
Let
be
success
rights and
the
displeased,
India
in
us
be
wish
tions,
institu-
be
might
it
achieved
comfort
success,
the
at
of
over
"
hundred
one
million
Meanwhile,
of the
the
weak,
made
41
shall
we
shall
kingdom
the
happy
wipe
lowly
because
away
women.
patientlyawait
of
the
vent
ad-
righteousness,wherein
and
the
all tears
the
helplessshall
great Judge
from
be
Himself
their eyes."
Widowhood*
69
CHAPTER
V.
WIDOWHOOD.
WE
periodof
the worst
to
come
now
woman's
high-caste
India,widowhood
for
by
upon
be
the
or
her
the punishment
crimes
former
less,according to the
and
murdering him
the
out
Through-
mitted
com-
existence'
periodof punishment
The
Disobedience
the crime.
regardedas
or
dreaded
most
life.
crime
in
woman
greater or
are
is
horrible
earth.
husband,
and
nature
of
disloyaltyto
the
in
chief crimes
may
an
earlier existence
punished in
the
presentbirth by widowhood.
If the widow
not
be
mother
of sons,
she
usuallya pitiable
object; although she
certainlylooked
upon
as
sinner,yet
is
is
social
70
abuse
The
High- Caste
aad
hatred
an
ancient
in
commands
an
people,to
which
old
life-time.
But
community
was
upon
whom
times
has been
when
of
not
Vedic
in
an
hatred
the
code
and
yet mutilated
re-marriagewas
or
cial
espe-
of the
whom
pronounced.
future
text
tred,
ha-
her husband's
child-widow
and
treated
genuine
the
reading of
dividua
the in-
greatestcriminal upon
judgment
ancient
honor
the
daughtershave
marriage in
it is
the
as
priesthoodhad
custom
her
manner
In
in
when
with
all
from
is
girls
of
sometimes
widow
childless young
Heaven's
added
widow-mother
given
her lot
quiteindependentof
age
especially
so,
been
be
sand
thou-
the
of
persecutions
may
and
indifferently
not
virtuous, aged
involuntary respect
The
stands
her
to
bravely withstood
has
temptations and
given to
rank
the
of
mother
because
widow,
who
widow
is
she
Next
superiorbeings.
In virtue
greatlydimished
are
fact that
the
of
Woman.
Hindu
of
Mann
when
the
the
original
concerningwidows,
in
existence.
Widowhood.
be
historymay
Its
stated
briefly
child-marriageleft
of
before
she
husband
knew
enter
into
uthe
father
obtains
his
is
It
son.
rite
widow
and
her
right
no
to
for
enjoy immortality,
debts
immortality if
living
had
sonless
and
throws
"
marriagewas,
died
heaven
The
girl a
many
what
having
71
he
the
on
the
sees
declared
in
and
son
of
face
the
Vedas,
"
endless
sons
; there
destitute
curse
is
of
that
place
no
be
those
for
the
who
be
have
who
man
pronounced
enemies
our
of
offspring." The
male
could
"may
was
worlds
the
are
is
greatest
enemies,
on
destitute
of
spring.
off-
"
In
order
attain
the
sages
abodes
as
the
the
among
raised up
The
of
husband's
"
desired issue
"
Hindu
or
husband.
man
kins-
and
duly
"
offspringto
been
yans
Ar-
other
appointed
having
ancient
appointmentM
Jews, the
brother,cousin
authorized to raise up
The
of
was
successively
might
blessed,the
the custom
invented
by which
husbands
the dead.
obtained
any
High-CasteHindu
The
72
the
bet-ween
intercourse
husband,
her
deceased
the
appointment
widow
of
children
by
his
considered
were
of
this custom
on,
her
and
"
alreadyquoted
"
heirs.
"
appointment
was
sinful.
the
still remained
woman
Later
appointed persons
and
illegal
thenceforth considered
The
Woman.
there is
the
was
Vedic
place for
no
the
"
is destitute of male
who
man
duties
The
of
in the code
"
on
Manu
the
mention
described
"
emaciate
her
fruit ; but
of another
name
thus
are
and
flowers,roots
pure
widow
pleasure let
her
At
of
offspring."
her
she
body by living
must
after her
man
never
even
husband
has
died"
"
which
is
only.*7 Manu
"
.
Nor
for virtuous
"
prescribedfor
v
"
trolled,
patientof hardships,self-con-
strive
chaste, and
and
duty
be
let her
death
Until
is
second
women.**
Manu
"
constantlyremains
wives
who
have
excellent
husband
one
158.
157,
a
to
husband
anywhere prescribed
v., 162.
after the
chaste, reaches
death
of
heaven,
her
husband
"
"
Manu
v., 16a
"
In
reward
of such
thoughts,speech, and
in
controls
this life
her
highest
Widowhood.
and
renown,
burn
followingare
wife
and
dies
of
Agnihotra, and
"
with
house
own
Manu
Manu
in
the
others
sacred
conducts
the sacred
:
"
law, shall
herself
fires used
before
him, he
having
taken
dunng
the
thus
for the
may
sacred
fires to
again,and
marry
wife, he
dwell
must
period of
second
his
in
life.
"
should
the
or
in mind
is
of
the
she be
faithful to him
only placewhere
she
taught
and,
in
can
her
him
according
heaven
to
it,
in
the
woman
next
and
independentof
the
to
husband, where
thought, word
be
mention
not
that
other
no
mansion
shares
do
Manu
borne
there
laws
code
Apastamba, Asvalayana
than
be
seat
The
compiled.
older
ceased
detom
cus-
the
priesthoodafter
the
schools of
their
on
evidently a
was
pyre
by
was
popular belief
hell.
widower
fires."
(nuptial)
invented
of
band."*
hus-
the sacrificialimplements."
husband's
than
the
self-immolation of widows
The
her
near
167-169.
v.t
*It
in
who
caste
with
at the
the
And
....
his
him,
dies
kindle
versed
equal
thus
again
place
man,
before
Having
world
next
v., 166.
twice-born
"A
"
the
Manu
"
The
in
73
she
world
if
deed.
The
him
is in
High-CasteHindu
The
74
neither
Vishnu
which
is
"
that
woman
funeral
the
of
pile
those who
so-called
life
ascend
or
husband."
her
Vishnu
"
invented
Suttee,which
authoritynext
As
did
producing
natural
fears
silence the
such
the
themselves
priestssaid
let these
with
thus
widow
should
there
overcome
well
as
refuse to
as
allow
strong authority.
was
according to
text
their
in
own
the
dering
ren-
"
not
women,
to be
to the
fire !
bandless,well adorned
fire whose
the
necessityof
would
reads
adorned
of
critic who
Rig-veda which
"Om!
which
text
some
sanction
not
the
the priestssaw
sacrifice,
limely
sub-
the greatest
Manu
the Vedas
to
of
of the
regardedas
was
meritorious act
So
of her husband
virtuous
of
says,
It is very
the
code
2.
xxv.,
this
The
of Mantu
comparativelyrecent,
eithei;lead
should
Woman.
Immortal,
with
originalelement
gems,
not
not
childless,
let them
is water.'*
pass
hus-
into the
The
76
herself
High- Caste
on
rightpalm, scattered
her
of
such
such
may
meet
Arundhati,and
one,
sojourn
of my
husband,
my
"hi-m the
with
there
facilities of
Indra
regionsof
he
have
killed
ever
laws of
gratitudeand truth,or
ascend
this funeral
guardiansof
you,
air,of
moon,
and
his funeral
side upon
his
of
passage
the
them
that
criminals
that
the
for
with
horse
the
her
were
which
earthlyservice?"
The
act
husband, and
the
was
couch
sick and
of
the
I do
Now
I
call upon
world, of
the
flame
stm,
water,
you,
Day,
beloved,by
tbatt the
it wonderful
pile.' Is
lord's
broken
Death, and
of
fourteen
to my
Sati to her
that
public festival,
touch
given
King
Yama,
enjoy
maternal
the
the
witness
Twilight,
and
Night
my
upon
may
Brahman,
through
eight regionsof
the
soul.
own
my
pile of
bless my
be
may
hairs
the
as
of my
far
go
pardon
that
,
whether
sins
may
fire,that
Svarga ;
many
those
day I, such
in the
heaven, and
and
praisedby Apsarasas, I
as
this
multiplied,that
scores
many
paternalancestors,
and
be
grains,and then,
' on
Om
reside in
may
bright garments,
family,die
"
Tila
some
left
The
men.
and
new
in her
grass
and
described
bathed, put
"widow
Woman.
gods
is thus
rite of Suttee
"The
the
please
to
Hindu
was
Hke"
prayed her
sorrowful
a,
to
fearless,conquering fraud,
little,
let loose
if she
carried her
was
looked
never
(". Arnold.)
supposed to
upon
used
tfrem,
agaJfc
,'',','
be
altogetJw#
Widowhood.
voluntary one,
many
cases.
than
death
happy
believed
be
happy
afterwards
miseries
lot
the
the
escape
as
or
to
heat
escape
late.
They
which
other
must
men
the
pyre.
did
than
they
taken
had
be
at
hand
In
the
to
sins and
their
tion
ambi-
pure
they
their
from
tried
feel the
leap
to
never
were
again,
often shrank
sooner
flames
and
down
too
the
the
on
fall to
from
and
died,
others
would
die,very
no
obtain
impulse,declared
momentary
thus
intentions
thus
who
should
monuments
temptations,and
Those
widows.
had
they
to
inscribed
they knew
their
they
they
and
family gods ;
which
for
Some
were
names
stronger
because
that
who
those
thousand
from
heart
hereafter.
to
list of
long
World, but
for tombstones
erected
love
because
in
so
was
cherished
not
all the
great renown,
were
this
it
for the
they
died
in
with
made
died
which
Some
doubt
no
Some
husbands.
been
and
77
it
was
oath
solemn
force them
Bengal, where
to
this
mount
re-
cus-
The
78
torn
High-CasteHindu
practice,countless,fearful
in
most
was
Woman.
after
tragediesof
this
occurred
description
British rule
was
tian
long established there, Chris-
missionaries
the government
petitioned
the
custom, but
social and
people constituted
of the
The
be
custom
from
man
Mohun
Roy,
that it
as
on
the
set
was
his
not
face
He
the noble
government
to abolish it.
moral
many
of
co-operation
at
last in
clared
de-
the Veda
the wickedness
succeeded
the
wrote
by
Ram
againstit,and
sanctioned
he
friends,
thick, when
the
until
Hindus, Raja
subject,
showing
interference."
claimed.
priests
this
such
unmolested
the
among
of
on
were
no
endangered by
went
they
to
religiouscustoms
government, and
might
even
books
of the
few
getting the
Lord William
Ben*
of India, had
Governor-general
courage
to enact
the famous
law
of
domains,and
holdingas criminals,
subjectto
Widowhood.
79
capitalpunishment, those
it.
But
had
any
That
it
effect upon
the
quoted
text
the
known
and
greatlydiffers from
without
that
the
know
"The
"so
shows
sanctioned
the
Many
repeat them
the
the texts
they
Max
says
earliest
Grihya-sutras,the
wife
to
Rig-veda,and
and to return
ordered
Indian
of the
Rigin
accompanies
the funeral
not
contained
ceremonial
the Vedic
dows,
wi-
of
was
periodof
hymns
verse
to
to the world
peat
re-
Muller,
this custom
the
those
indeed, are
few
clearlythat
during
Ve-
Sanskrit,
the
The
of
and
meaning*of
According to
rhitfto*7*
veto* md
Brahmans
Veda.
by heart
Rig-veda,"
far from
was
mistake, but
Veda
all
oldest form
is the
language
Vedas
minds.
the
had
of the
meaning
the
^aw
part of it forged,could
dic
know
Hindu
from
easily shown
been
countenanced
1844 that ^e
orthodox
mistranslated,and
have
until
not
was
who
the
pile,but
taken
from
leave
band
her hus-
of the
living."
The
8o
world
of
whose
life is gone.
life,thou
fulfilled the
who
Come
"This
duties of
is
verse
the
later
readingof
the
is
the
word,
hast
band,
the hus-
to
and
made
the
very
have
Brahmans
of their
is
verse
thee
reading, in
of
The
tenet
all
doubt, for
our
sense
of
Rig-veda. Besides,
and
commentaries
nowhere
verse
falsified and
cruel
beyond
in the whole
the
and
hand
thy
various
no
have
we
wife
him
unto
Thou
us.
precededby
quoted in support
there
to
the
to
"
mother.'
which
sleepestnigh
took
once
Woman.
said,'come
it is
"'Rise, woman,'
thus
Hindu
High- Caste
is there
the
any
ials,
ceremon-
difference to
the
text
the other
and
the
its
or
who
women
who
meaning.
have
are
to
is addressed
It
present
pour
at the
oil and
to
ral,
fune-
butter
on
pile
.
these
u"May
but
have
and
butter.
up
are
first to
sorrow,
who
women
but
These
the
who
are
with
fine
near
mothers
altar,without
decked
not
tears,
widows,
with
oil
may
go
wi
'n
jewels,
Widowhood.
It
the
unscrupulouspriestsmanaged
Those
who
know
the
with
their
religionthey
thousand
the
has
than
more
been
thinking that
text
pre-
of
two
state
the will
law
the
the
delivered from
little do
terriblefate; but
of
the
Hindu
hand
of
they realize
of affairs!
Provinces,women
6
cause
as
except
Throughout I^dia,
era
it
the
the
the
partlyby
itfcte
iWe
cusable
ex-
comparing the
been
have
many
empire, is prohibited,
widow
not
are
Suttee-rite,
partlyby
people and
of the
the
years.
that
Now
all that
under
thus
lives for
destroyingcountless
the
they translated
its context,
verse
can
of
error
Instead of
in the least.
of
for
permitted the
priestswho
characters
carelessness
copyist,but
or
verse.
falsification very
the
that
change
to
whole
the
Sanskrit
the
likely originatedin
transcriber
of
meaning
easily understand
easy
a
by falsifying
single syllablethat
was
entirelythe
Her
are
in the Northwest-
put
to
the
severest
Hindu
High-Caste
The
82
trial
The
which
in
manner
them
be
to
does
of
the
die than
The
have
crueltyof
here.
Among
about
the
every
fortnight Some
have
glossy
does
hair
not
with
generously decorated
woman
thinks
it
worse
her
hardly know
the
the
castes,
shaving
tating
pride in imi*
What
woman
death
fourteen
of soft
has
nature
head?
reason
stop
regularly
the wealth
than
things
Deccan
of
much
which
the
of
not
lower
custom
love
the
high-castebrethren.
is there who
and
of
of
this
adopted
heads, and
their
sooner
deprived
does
be shaved
must
ments
orna-
their persons.
on
or
Brahmans
of all widows
widows'
of
of all the
social customs
heads
too, have
petty
no
they are
and
up
pels
com-
own
silver ornament,
bright-colored
garments,
to
their
to
lovers
passionate
and
gold
they love
death.
brought
are
but
self-adornment,
of
husband
every
they
slaves
little interests,
to be
and
husband*
treated from
and
the
imaginable after
Woman.
Hindu
to lose
and
why
so
he^:
fifteen/
they
are
The
84
her in abusive
There
is
Woman.
High-CasteHindu
language at
scarcelya day
opportunity.
every
life
of her
which
on
cursed
'she is not
in-law
gives vent
language
There
way.
be
looked
as
time
were
this
In
is
fear she
the
bring disgraceupon
rule,
tion
addi-
always
improperact.
may
to
tiful garments
her
on
less attractive to
to
ling
her
sacred
which
eat
more
to
to
or
The
purpose
once
from
eye.
a
not
bright,bew-
is to render her,
person,
man's
than
abstain
days, is
ornaments
put
at
family by
allowing her
her
possible
every
widow
young
widow's
many.
prisoner,for
committing some
of
not
into
and closely
guarded
suspicion,
with
upon
if she
any
this,the
all
burns
exceptionsto
are
mother-
young
in
intolerable
may
cause
short, the
but, unhappily,they
to
The
heard,
once
In
life is rendered
her
to
as, when
heart
human
people as th^
friend* s death.
their beloved
of
these
by
Not
allowing
food
ott
altogether
by
part of the discipline
and
$""
Widowhood.
sire.
is
She
85
closelyconfined
forbidden
even
friends
often
with
associate
to
to
the
house,
her
female
"
as
(who
or
see
social
few
but
of
hope, empty
and
has
husband
to
unable
are
take
to
parentallove.
with
her.
she lives in
of
care
if his
her, do,
custom
stronger hold
pleasureand
sympathizewith
every
relatives,or
no
tute
then, desti-
curse
to
persons
allowed
a
intolerable,
parents,with whom
own
sins
aunt-cou-
literaryknowledge,
least
the
life
Her
advantage,becomes
herself
her
and
her.
speak with
of all
void
except
man
no
are
regardedas brothers)
are
it is of
as
to
as
father,brother,uncles
her
to
wishes ;
she
Her
her
relatives
of course,
religious
and
upon
case
has
them
than
ter
They, too, regard their daugh-
concern,
lest she
bring disgraceupon
their family.
It is not
widow
mind
the
an
without
and
uncommon
thing
occupation that
heart,and
unable
for
may
young
satisfy
longer to endure
to which
and suspicions
slights
she is per-
The
86
Hindu
Higfb-Caste
to
petuallysubjected,
home.
where
shall she
of
even
by
has
She
which
for
her
on
wears
her
stare
the
but
honest
an
any
living.
single garment
Starvation
person.
the
in
face ;
no
ray
What
life of
is the
cruel,cruel
by
prayer
misery,which
sisters*
It
Zenana
missionary,one
can
written
the
Hindu
widowhood
bitter
than
by
read and
tasted
pupil of
write,and
and
her
and
her
words
of
own
any
one
Here
life-long
to
of the few
sorrows
from
fate.
Oh,
sands
drives thou-
doomed
woman
mine.
who
such
to
worse
shame.
and
that
custom
feelingsbetter
was
suicide or,
infamy
widows
of young
alternative before
only
is either to commit
still,
accept
The
do?
she
can
her
is
make
she may
death
her
have
completely ignorant of
nothing
she
and
of
which
it,
respectablefamily,
caste, will
is
She
prisonfrom
gets away
No
go?
her
from
escape
she
lower
servant
art
when
But
Woman.
British
Hindu
who
men
wo-
has
$f
degradation,
childhood,
"
Widowhood.
"Oh
the
on
Lord, hear
my
oppression
that
weeping,
and
our
case.
art
the
his
"0
some
have
only
wilt
impotence,our
our
over
Bruised
of the
upon
us,
above
and
hear
and
round,
us
when
the
has
inquire into
below,
but
Thou
complaint, Thou
"
dishonor.
dark
ages
and
we
cloud
and
ied
bur-
strength to
no
like
are
rance
igno-
like prisoners
are
choked
have
the
husks
dry
juice has
sweet
all
one
spirits; like
we
beaten, we
eye
to
No
nor
For
minds
our
and
turned
us.
our
case.
custom, and
sugar-cane
save
mouldering house,
dust of
the
have
degradation,our
our
wraps
old and
an
out
go
look
an
suffer,though with
women
would
one
who
has turned
one
desire,we
searched
One
No
poor
eyelids to
We
knowest
we
crying and
sides,hoping that
lifted up
prayer!
87
been
tracted.
ex-
All-knowing God,
sins and
give us
of
Thy
free from
this
live in this
world.
For
flows,but it
From
Thy
not
reach
does
comes
misery, only injustice
"Thou
hearer
but
Thee, forgive,
is.
Must
too
ignorant to
the
with
we
are
are
the
not.
happier than
world.
They
were
if
prayer,
we
know
with
very
are
us
too
not
for
born
in
set
born
to
life-long
sinned
have
we
it is"
they
be
tice
judgment jus-
this,our
ignorantto
thing
some-
us.
drunkards, with
animals
we
been
of
; in
see
may
we
of sin fall
what
forgiveour
shall
have
as
know
know
against
what
those
on
who
great Lord,
lunatics,with
they
Criminals,confined
we,
we
throne
near
punishment
is written
name
of
that
sin
what
prayer
Father, when
prison?
our
of escape,
power
jail?
hear
are
in the
not
are
our
beciles,
im-
ble,
responsi-
jailsfor life,
of
Thy
have
not
something
prison,but
sin
we
The
88
for
to
day, no,
one
it is
us
world, we
us, who
works
may
in this
has
Or
the
Why
are, that
we
in
the
and
a
The
cannot
think
remember
bear
our
hard
we
are
our
longer
be
mercy,
we
Thee
from
the
men
Hindu
entitled "The
is
of
of the
Century,
Widow,
quote from
to
for
God
curse
saved
is
we
selves,
our-
of
may,
in
lives may
our
joys
"
which
Create
gentleman contributes
Hindu
Almighty
killed
the
India.
victim
us,
have
us
longing, that
something
even
God
this,that
of
heard
our
save
than
forts
com-
mercy,
Lord,
sympathy, that
some
taste
in the
upon
Thy
men
wo-
other
oppressed is
killing ourselves.
women
passed in vain
may
upon
us
female?
us
justice? O
us.
still
to
hearts of the
of
for
us?
Thou
Dost
share
look
lot; many
prayer
removed
Thou
sea, and
and
mercy,
canst
doors
Thy
shut
of the
born
created
and
make
some
cry
for
Shall
been
us?
male
to
have
house.
thought
us
power
might
too
Unapproachable,
vast
be
not
Then
world.
hosts,and
created
but
to know
learn
not
made
no
have
dying.
are
god
who
have
Thou
Thou
Hast
Thou
of this life?
here, and
other
Thou
hast
We
the
seen
Thee,
of the
India?
world, hast
men
Almighty,hast
we
died
Those
possible to
four walls
or
Thy world
having
not
understand
to
is not
perchance, some
only for
care
have
of
Father
"O
learn
the world,
jail,we
; and
only the
see
Woman.
dreams, seen
our
name
in, it
shut
call them
we
but
know
We
in
even
cannot
are
Thee.
not
nothing
Thy
seen
Hindu
Caste
Hig/i-
the
no
by Thy
of life."
,an
article
Th"
teenth
Nine-
this a$
te$i"
'
WidowJwod.
from
mony
of my
statement,lest
sister-widows
The
life under
the
knows
comfort
no
roof
from
there
Hindus,
if
call it her
has
if she
is made
she
clothes
a
coarse
had
on, but
white
English
neither the
our
think
and
cursed
death
the
hatred
it.
for
and
If
Among
husband
she
not
can-
belongs to
her
son,
to inherit
nobody
him
all her
on
cannot
widow's
it she
property
bare
ance
allow-
widow
save
is burnt
dies she
wife
for
paternalproperty, and
give
when
proaches.
unjust re-
corpse
in
is covered
at
funeral
"'The
in
$ven
For
indignities.
with
her
him.
her
arrangements of the
her wealth
heir, and
she*
sisters-in-law.
and
comes
and
only receives
has
whole
from
slave, and
and
if she
and
adopt an
to
granted by
the
All
own.
any,
directlyhe
from
like
property by her
is left any
my
then
to meet
looks
inherit any
cannot
women
widow
unkind
work
is blamed
widow
family the
only
has
any
is
She
mother-in-law
her
her
to pass
father-in-law,and
drudgery she
of all her
which
to
"
her
to
aggerate
ex-
for life :
whatever.
has
She
abhorrence
of
to
appear
parents has
no
relations
late husband's
reward
has
who
truthfulness
condition
doomed
are
widow
should
the miserable
"
89
abolished
have
English
nor
the
well
good I*
m%ht
Such
she
were
Sati
angels
not
words
'
what
know
only
the
exclaim, that
but
(Suttee),
do
goes
not
of
alas!
care,
a
neither tiie
on
but
widow;
English
angels know,
the
nor
think
care, but
for her
barbarous
to be
their
to
mortal,
realize them.
of
course
the
One
lot must
widow's
is
'the
even
or
it
can
be
their
the
thousand
times
It is
doubt
no
widows
times many
this
she
practice
know
how
widow
her
"
is added
her
own
is
miserable
themselves
DEVENDIRA
the
death
drove
feelingthat
says),
continuous
the
to
any
hard
receives from
than
"
widow
the
humiliations
Hindu
to immolate
husbands
contrary,
widows
easilyimagine
welcome
more
the
Hindu
when
To
sisters and
own
on
angels,'(as
....
friends.
of the
perfectlyimpossiblefor
gallingill-treatmentwhich
and
them,
consider the
self-inflictionsand
fastings,
relations
ledge
fair know-
horrors
; nay,
salutary. Only
evils and
Hindus
orthodox
the
sufferings
;
own
the
can
among
manner
have
vouch
the widows
victimizes
ruthless
and
good
other
which
so
majorityof
the
sufferingsof
only don't
not
I am,
as
few Hindus
to know
custom
Hindus
for Hindu
'
that very
actual
daughters in
that the
and
good
still care
fewer
and
it
statement
of the
Woman.
High-CasteHindu
The
go
tence.
exis-
former
in
on
the funeral
N,
teenth
DAS, Nine-
Century,September,1886.
There
is
they will
meet
of widows
tablishingthe re-marriagesystem.
tern
should
benefit
marry
time
of
on
certainlybe
the
infant
coming
it should
to
think that
This
introduced
widows
who
age ; but at
be remembered
by
es*
$ys^
for
tfye
wish
to
the
same
The
92
and
their friends
their
tears
in
maids
if
of
resist these
to
be
preparedto
marrying
or
world
they
would
the
on
be
to
established
a
man
to
some
are
with
they
to
would
to
were
people
fall in distress
dailybread
and
are
hated
in
this tremendous
The
by people who
customs
is
few
of all
there
endured
cut
give
ever
their
by,
so
After
be
to
be
relatives. In such
altar of conscience?
in
must
societyand friends,
earn
make
burden.
wish
men
sure
Hindu
ridiculed
many
who
blood
flesh and
If
their nearest
be
How
men.
caste
widow
unable
will
they
the idea
perpetualmartyrdom.
assistance if
become
and
convictions,
they
faithful
no
case
them
suffer
with
even
offer money
Can
temptations?
with
give up
to
widow*
all connection
off from
and
consent
to their
true
others
eyes,
them
relatives entreat
they will
marrying
Woman.
Hindu
High-Caste
the
fice
sacrition
persecu-
transgress
comes
great that life beyears
ago
high-
Cutch, (Northwestern
tured
venIndia,)
marry
which
persecution
widow, but
ensued,
was
to
endure
the
beyond his
Widowhood.
power,
found
the
and
fellow
wretched
it
be
at
all
sufferer's
of the
of
ending
taken
with
away
none
her
with
miseries
from
to
help
her,
her.
So
lot
high-caste widow
available, nor
not
gation
miti-
poor,
less
help-
desirable, as
times
in
remains
after
soon
was
suicide.
Re-marriage, therefore, is
would
93
the
the
the
as
one
chance
Suttee
in
ages
rite
past
The
94
CHAPTER
HOW
VI.
OF
CONDITION
THE
have
done
state
of
THOSE; who
in
anything to
Hindu
the
nonsenses
nation.
which
and
forced
been
complete dependence
generous
the
women
have
broad
the
science
many
have
and
countries
have
the
rance
igno-
already
day-lightof
been
found
example o/
as
in
keeping women
into
noble
hundreds
brought forward
are
and
civilization,
all,the
in
the
over
dependence. They
fieryproofof
Above
I pass
for
out
keep
to
of
the present degradation
do with
strongest reasons
best
their
vehemently deny
ignorance,
and
of
TEI^LS
WOMEN
SOCIETY.
UPON
women
Woman.
put
to
wanting.
thousands
burned
of
the
Condition of Women
so-called
ashes.
to
reasons
still hoveringover
are
and
are
to
duty
death.
hope
that
us
all these
body
and
put forth
to
the
suffered
not
their
women,
of
God's
forever
it is
our
best endeavors
our
India's
our
from
in
the
to
daughters,aye,
spiteof
the
that
they
brethren
degradationof
betrays but
condition
own
in
meanwhile
also ; because
assertions
proud
rant
igno-
the
devils shall be
the matter
for her
have
Let
ghosts
of the Hindus
and
to take
hasten
and
the land
timid
of India's
out
their
But
frighteningthe
good time,
cast
upon Society.95
too
plainlythe contrary.
Since
men
and
by Providence
body
of human
each
society,
confess it
the
all
or
not.
In the animal
vegetablekingdom,
nature
as
they
well
which
they
were
they
cannot
will
as
demands
same
suffer when
must
whether
suffer,
of growth
cppiditions
that
the
of
-members
as
their fellow-members
united
indissolubly
are
women
with
in
that
its
become
designed to
originally
The
96
be.
be
should
Why
to
the
drink
in
their
and
lives
of
weaker
crushed
spirits
and
prejudices
starved from
of
under
the
absolute lack of
out
calculation,
they
the welfare
much
neighbors,
being.
be
come
be-
^minds
and
Thus
hundred, at
to
grow
of their
be
selfish
ferent
indifinterests,
immediate
own
more
could
How
their
world.
of
to
social
food
literary
least
portunit
op-
dwarfed,
weight of
and
superstitions,
in ninety cases
fettered,
the
the
generationto
from
house,
sunshine,they
wholesome
weaker
their
breathe
the
of
walls
four
Closely
women?
purdah
deprived throughout
to
this law
exceptionto
any
the
for
made
confined
Woman.
Hindu
High-Caste
these
imprisonedmothers
themselves,for
shall
around
the
us
as
the
fruit be.
in
deservingthat
India
tree
and
soil are,
Consequentlywe
a
exalted
of
generation
men
appellation.
see
so
all
Condition
The
doctrine
nowhere
be
India.
and
of Women
mind
mother's
well
as
and
monotony
pre-natalinfluence'1
spirits
being depressed,
body weakened
as
men
of Hindustan
suck
from
the mother's
is unable
owing
and
present
her utter
to
and
born
un-
when
not
babes,
breast,true patriotism,
developethat
condition
with
Fault-finding
towards
do
boyhood,the mother,poor
to
them
the
by
The
in their
In
of her life,the
inactivity
child cannot
and
can
satisfactorily
proved than
more
The
"
of
upon Society.97
divine
faculty in
ignoranceof
of
woman,
the past
native
her
land.
neighbors,bitter feelings
expressedin
tyrant relatives
words
these
family affairs,
learn
children
babyhood
up
at
to
are
mother's
the
the seventh
or
knee, from
eighth year
of
age.
Again, how
does
it
come
succeedinggenerationgrows
one
precedingit,if
each
of
7
not
to pass
that each
weaker
than the
because
lack
generation
the
the
tors
progeni-
mental
and
children
physicalstrengthwhich
The
inherit?
to
healthy in mind,
the
mother
not
was
well
as
bequeathed the
fatal
dullness
children.
them
to
her
of
women
upon
dependent,and
their
sons
some
other
The
as
mission
completesubHindu
of
one
any
thus
it has
years
and
nation,and
converted
altogether
depend
upon
themselves.
upon
have
telling
upon
men,
borne
the
Hindu
been
in
and
these
to
death if
die
of
fatally
physicalhealth of
last times
poisonousfruit that
nation
the
the mothers
graduallyand
the mental
and
upon
are
to pass that
come
not
has
law
They
be
race, desire to
ignoranceforced
nation
our
to
and
absolute
the
of weakness
creatures.
slavery-loving
lean
glad to
has
the
milleniums
body, bnt
undoubtedly
The
under
lapseof
into
legacy
free
been
in
as
she
destined
are
have
father may
and
in the
Woman.
High-CasteHindu
The
98
will
miserable
timelyremedy
they have
compel the
and
is not
longed
pro-
taken
them.
Moreover
the
Hindu
woman's
ignorance
but
do
can
Having
of
an
for
her
bring to
the
work
all-important
this
children at that
age?
to
condition
the
women
I now
sisters,
direct
to
definitely
their attention
needs.
After
and
many
years
thought,I
have
women
are
;
71
:
"
3rd, Native
"
law-giverto keep
them
to
human
Women
than
their
to the
tion
observasion
conclu-
Hindu
high-caste
state of
men
women
are
pendence
completede-
requiredby
from
lives makes
*have
it
impossiblefor
which
pitifulparasite.
their sistersof
the
birth to the
without
self-reliance,
being becomes
of the
chief
our
Teachers.
Women
The
Self-Reliance.
of
tion
ist, Self-Reliance ; 2nd, Educa-
in which
end
of
of
desire to
of careful
come
importantperiodof
and
interesting
life. Who
notice
their character at
mould
flueuce is exerted to
this most
Woman.
High-Caste Hindu
The
I oo
high castes
in
better off
India,for
Condition
in many
of Women
they are
cases
themselves,and
obligedto depend
afforded
they largelyprofit
of
their
the
four
time, if they
a
male
in
energy
of
and
indolence
them
false
strengthto
withstand
which
be
on
her
to
hope
must
toward
way
that
will
the
ever
the
may
become
by
or
culties
diffiperson
But
it is idle
my
women
country-
of
improve without
self-reliant?
little
trials and
progress.
with
easily
are
have
and
teach
them,
helplessvictims
encountered
sisters to
Western
e.
self-reliance and
after-
cruelly cropped
so
condition
In
do
to
timiditythey
of their wits
in
with-
for
care
what
been
have
up
protector,i.
know
dead within
are
house.
their
out
frightened
jo
not
They
themselves.
their
support and
relative to
do
they literally
shut
are
left without
are
which
by
actually destitute
are
keep them,
walls of
them
high-castewomen,
But
families
to
means
upon
opportunityfor cultivating
an
self-reliance is thus
unless
them
individual
the
duty
how
of
they
the
of India
women
The
Education."
IL
1883, and
for
thousand
the
and
women
of
returns
census
seven
girlsdirectly
rule, ninety-nineand
British
under
mission
Com-
the Educational
ninety-ninemillion
the
Of
1880-81.
fairlyrealized by
be
can
hundred
Woman.
Hindu
HigJi-Caste
The
102
one-half
millions
are
write ; the
who
returned
and
seven
read
the
metic
than
the
four
nmntz"
able
of
or
the
than
third
the
the
two
vernacular
read
or
write
government
are
arith^
more
be
membered
re-
thousand
the
u#/-
schools,mission
schools,
privateschools conducted
of India
no
It should
hundred
that
ability
little knowledge of
simple rules.
to
school-
within
usually comprehends
that
women
age ;
acquireslittle more
second
which
of
years
and
reading-book,
the
girl is generallybetween
nine
thousand
write,cannot
or
educated,for
as
going period of
read
and
read
to
hundred
two
either to
reckoned
all be
as
remaining
able
are
unable
by
the
habitant
in-
independently,
privatesocie-
Condition of Women
ties and
mission
Zenana
together.
agenciesall
how
surprising
It is
of
number
women
when
knowledge indicated,
and
Girls of nine
and
school
off from
is
popular
belief
that
their husbands
read
or
The
should
hand,
fear of
it
It
house.
husband's
high-castewomen
their
in
pen
widow
they should
if
die
will
becoming
is
in the
read
to
cut
hold
girl to
or
among
hold
of
wholly
are
or
woman
of others in her
presence
India.
recently out
marriage
in her
the
incessantly
writing,because
young
book
or
paper
in
reading or
for
shame
when
ten
given
are
education in
female
fightingagainst
ited
lim-
consider
we
that
principalities
and
powers
this small
even
acquired the
have
can
reckoned
fingers.
their
overcomes
and
hunger
the
enough
,;marid
'
to
$eea
to
the
knowledge.
get
but
self-culture;
any
little wives
devote
'
thirst for
can
possess the
time
is in
by her husband's
canno" long
be
desire and
constant
relatives.
kept
Moreover
scanty time
secret
to
fortunate
one
able to
fear
Her
'
of
com-
being
employ-
where
every
Woman.
High-CasteHindu
The
IO4
is
on
she
is
ridiculed,
laughed at and
interfered with
her
by
alas,such
Our
schools,too,
the
teachers
of
primary schools,
sent),are
but
how
to
children,
who
girls
or
third
make
have
the
standard
as
and
in
most
engage
primary
world
or
an
and
in newspaper
have
little
thingsaround
own
the
they find
important events
dailyoccurringin their
of
get
quicklyto for-
the
they
book-reading,
common
for
interesting
these
as
from
to
ability
knowledgeof
of the
soon
do not
up to the second
it their business
destitute of the
useful
usually
great many
(grade)in
opportunity. Shut
no
lessons
been educated
their lessons
and
girlsare
nominallyeducated,and
Consequentlya
schools make
elders be
attractive to
very
(and it is
know
an
extremely rare.
are
not
are
at
now
the
sense.
non-
progressive
husban^;
husbands
but
children ;
proceedingsof
the
unless
manded
com-
even
pursuitsare
literary
Her
end
elders to
the
by
discovered
when
lookout,and
the
one
or
them,
that
are
lands.
foreign
Condition
of Women
upon Society.105
selfish
Ignorant,unpatriotic,
the
they drag
abyss where
dark
hope, without
do
down
men
///. Native
English
doing
and
respect1
to be
but
the
and
of
to
can
and
elevate
some
are
hundred
rule to whom
under
America
these
are
unfriendlyclimate,
to
must
Hindu
and
in
it exceedingly
enter
their
upon
reachingIndia
among
be added
and
the
nearly
British
under
women
few
thousand
several millions
Mahommedan
England
Hindu
; and
many?"
so
among
lost
literally
millions of
they toil,
elevation
an
after
time
heart-felt
we
hear
rule.
aging
encour-
which
reportsfrom mission fields,
that
are
enlighten
the
tongue make
unknown
an
then, "what
In
and
American
"
praisefrom all,and
disabilitiesof
for
more
to
missionaries
Zenana
as
one
something or
Teachers.
thanks
They
into the
India's
work
them
the world.
Women
they
uncultivated,
women
all
with
ambition
something in
and
and
state
Mahommedan
and
women
schools
Woman,
High-CasteHindu
The
io6
in their
or
own
as
of
the
female
creed, we
national
general spread
of
through
women,
the
of their
men
All
within
The
and
work
nation
outward
is
themselves
to teach
who
own
race
that
shown
must
to be
come
effectual.
by precept
countrywomen*
and
make
it their
the
women
among
among
thing needful,therefore,
for
one
India
of the
experiencein
has
general diffusion
of education
in
tenets
knowledge
useful
through foreignwomen.
or
of
seclusion
scarcelyhope for
can
either
In
Hindustan.
the
and
castes
seem
multitude
vast
regarded as essential
are
women
populationof
where
country
in
being instructed
girls are
among
life-work
people rank
caste
they have
for
been
in
kept
perceptionand
make
will
them
is not
inherited
have
ness
degree,quick-
of
bestowed
them
upon
competent
That
workers.
by
little
this statement
visionaryon
altogether
proven
still are
and
A
intelligence*
many
able
teachers and
has been
certain
judiciouseducation
and
care
race
The
years.
been
have
ignorance,yet they
cultivated
thousand
two
of these castes
women
intelligent
;
most
refined and
than
more
the
as
India,the high-
of
inhabitants
the
Among
Woman.
Hindu
High-Caste
The
io8
my
part,
results
gratifying
the
of
A.,
Bose, M.
now
of
lady principal
Kadambini
School,Calcutta,
M.
B., and
also others
passedtheir
The
B.
who
examinations
of
professors
Bethune
Ganguli,B, A.,
have
successfully
cal
Medi-
Had
would
of
ability
her
have
life been
shown
spareda
Joshee*
littlelongershe
to the world
The
du
woman,
any
woman
in
spiteof
all drawbacks
the
to
were
in India
and
thirty thousand
equals
these
thousand
hundred
one
of age,
years
nine
Under
years
nine
dred
hun-
and
ages
six hundred
were
1881
hundred
six
all
of
of
census
twenty million
twenty-six widows,
Among
109
of civilized countries.
Again, according
there
Appeal.
and
widows
and
castes.
sixty-nine
under
teen
nine-
viz. :
78,97$
of age
From
10
to
14 years
of age.
From
15 to
19 years
of age.
207,388
382,736
669,100
and
Girls of nine
age,
betrothed
whose
and
virgin widows,
must
families,
Now
if there
where
be
were
young
or
thirteen
husbands
are
these, if
of
years
of
dead, are
high-caste
singlethroughoutlife.
who
might
instructed in
for
remain
of
independent
honest
ten,
wish
make
go
to
an
to be
teachers,
many
horrid
occurrences
might
and
prevented,
be
would
Miss
India,with
find
condition in
by
means
at
for
that
girlsin
period, and
the
British
would
upon
her return
founded
the
might
for
gested
sug-
should
womentraining
be awarded
assist
indigentwomen,
to Miss
to
end
She
should
scholarships
response
which
that
government
otherwise be unable
In
by
iu
country might be
zenanas.
schools
order to
tour
by furnishingwomen-
Hindu
to
way
the desired
the
some
short
discovered
which
establish normal
that
once
accomplishedwas
teachers
to
to
cation.
edu-
Englishlady,
eminent
1866,an
improved. She
chief
can
view
India where
in
Carpenter,made
Mary
women's
institutions have
anywhere
widows
high-caste
In the year
blessingto their
alas !
But
these widows
time
same
welcome
founded
been
not
the
at
prove
countrywomen.
be
Woman.
Hindu
Tfie High-Caste
1 10
to
pursue
who
their studies.
Carpenter's
appeal
England,the
British government
women
in
The
India,and
"
in
Appeal.
of
honor
this
in
good lady
"
Mary Carpenterscholarships
by benevolent
I
have
of
undoubtedly been
ized the
them,
of the
of
hopes of
and
partlyon
of
are
thrown
to
out
this
to
as
scarcelyenough
to
value
its money
to
twenty
she cannot
the
or
in
cases
kind
in
her
being
normal
from
from
educational
even
this
finds
vation,
star-
twelve
get
ture
crea-
she is
studentshipshe
keep
is
she
so
If then
tfe sheltered
to go
receive any
alone.
is awarded
school and
herself
relatives ;
own
the world
face
When
hope, except
rare, to
in
inadequacy
forlorn
helpless,
penniless,
fortunate
so
her
of the
it upon
takes
extremely
real-*
caste-rules
for attendance.
cannot
help from
not
founder,partlybecause
account
arrangements
to
they have
have
of keeping
impossibility
school,she
which
they
use,
their
high-castewidow
to
opened
while
caste, and
every
which
schools
personallyinspected,were
women
of the
endowed
were
These
persons.
few
; but
department, unless
she
pass
certain examination.
widow
hope
How
"are
of which
at
?
schools for
normal
the
mission
foreign*
few
woman
find
may
but
if she
and
of
be
shelter
orthodox
an
to this
Hindu
caste
statement,but
knows
that
she must
will
on
no
strange
of
exceptions
are
as
be
and
embrace
any
religionin
induced
it appear
to
rule,a high-
to
this .alternative.
to live
goes
lose caste,and
forsake her
strange
which
to
violate her
shelter. That
she
others
ancestral
No
one.
by faith,
that
end
would
Hindu
if she
where
instruction,
death
prefers
woman
She
with
and
refugewith people of
schools
family,she
respectable
take
account
to
illiterate
an
are
and
can
to
Woman.
High-Caste Hindu
The
1 1 2
woman
the
faith
of
ther
firmlybelieves wheto
be
conscience
the fear of
for
abjureone's religion
true
or
simplyfor
false,
food
being tempted
the sake of
worldly
The
gain
should
widow
from
AppeaC.
prevent many
going
is undoubted.
intolerable
she
herself in
drown
which
deed
she
wretchedness
will
be
to
eternal
these
which
would
of
way
to
removed,
and
in order to
of India
succor
ing
educatof
none
her
the
path?
course
widows
the
in
general,may
be
opened for
be
and
stated
"
should
shelter without
to
ly
advantageous-
most
can
high-castechild-widows
caste, or
her
Can
be
judgment
religion
helping and
they
in my
cured,
se-
come.
from
can
heaven
doom
removed
I. Houses
take
no
past sins
ancestral
be
women
and
her
obstacles
follows
as
place in
high-castewidows?
be taken
the
forsake
her
by
the
only escape
life,but
a
misery
sacred river
some
Is there then
Yes
this
domestic
by
not
circumstances
any
these
will
forgiven,and
but
under
of
Hindu
that if her
honestlybelieves
life is rendered
can
excellent
an
foreignmissionaryschools
to
She
113
of
the
where
fear of
being disturbed
the young
in
they
can"
losing their
their
religious
1 1
The
Woman.
High-Caste Hindu
as
they
have
may
relates to
dom
entire free-
such
caste-rules,
house wherein
order
II. In
and
disturb
or
taken
theyhave
help them
to
these houses
and
nurses
to
to
and
housekeepers,
These
houses
ladies and
pledged to
seek its
an
able
honor-
make
of
should become
cording
hand-work,ac-
capacity.
should
be
under
house
the
of influential
gentlemen,who
each
be
should
happy
be
home
opportunities.
The
ladies as
services of
assistants and
in order to
Western
American
well-qualified
teachers should be
afford the
V.
the
an
IV.
of
teachers,
esses,
govern-
and management
superintendence
and
not
up their abode.
make
be
Hindu
do
independentliving,
they should
taught in
III.
the peace
as
cured
se-
occupants of the
advantageof Eastern
and
civilizationand education.
Libraries
the
containing
best books
on
1 1
High-Caste
The
beginning,I
God,
who
resolved to try,
am
need
the
knows
either
them
For
good words
silentlyignore
help to
carry
not
of
pecuniaryaid.
ridicule the
There
it.
would
who
them
or
with
reason
they only
it
gettingfrom
high-casteHindu
matter
or
forward
education
there is littlehope of my
women,
to
ing
becountry-people
bitterly
opposedto the
most
women,
country-
my
in
succeed
whether
of my
great "majority
The
of
trustingthat
able workers
will raise up
this cause,
Woman.
Hindu
proposal or
some
are
and
certainlyapprove
the
into
idea
must
good
results.
One
performing miracles
among
but
effect,
advantages and
must
to
would
have
they
its
see
the power
induce
this
of
class of
receive the
to
men
wellgospelof society's
miracle
have faith
in India
ten
will
years,
prove
and
Such*
woman.
to believe will be
before the
end
of
after
self-supporting
the
formed
pernext
enterprise
that
period
The
with
only native
handful
of
ideas who
is
social customs
who
will,without
from
the
reform
to
beginning;
but
the
they
the
Hindustan, and
of
doubt, support
forward
now
even
entertainingprogressive
are
to
117
There
aid.
Hindus
and
religious
which
Appeal.
have
work
my
little with
cause
services.
An
the
be
pupilsmust
be founded
and
all
to
good
their
they
may
it is my
years;
most
sacred
of
land
highly-favored
whatever
kind
to
they
make
those who
this
I invite
belief
may
way
about
that
who
bestow
States
whatever
period of
those
this educational
to
solemn
duty
flourishing
of the United
men
for
Therefore
in
help liberally
able
be
foreign
cannot
services,
kept in
money.
and
women
give me
their
afterwards
condition without
the
supported and
paid for
liberally
teachers
indicated,where
ten
it is the
dwell
in
this
freelytalents
of
ward
possess*to help forI venture
movement
appeal because
believe
regardthe preachingof
the
that
gospel
The
1 18
of
High-Caste Hindu
our
importantas
millions
for the
by throwingopen
zenanas,
without
the locked
which
Mothers
of your
and
the
you
at
darlings
on
in
can
tormentors.
walls of
widows
and
the
the condition
your
India,who
the
sides
happyfire-
are
then
of
already
an
human
in-
ask yourselves
Millions of
dailyrisingfrom
Indian
have
unholy altar
the littlewidows
rescue
are
bear the
to
persecution.
cries
men,
wo-
'been sacrificed
their
safely
the
to
world
fathers,
compare
correspondingage
to
done
able
outer
of social
sweet
own
with
whether
be
be
gospel
cannot
dazzlinglight of
the
spread of
perilousblasts
valuable
of
the way
prepare
so
accomplishment
hundreds
and
of money
heathen
the
to
in its
spend
to
Woman.
zenanas;
the hands of
heart-rending
within
the stony
thousands of child-
ray
of
The
hope
cheer
to
Appeal.
their
weight of
sin and
their ruin
crushed
shame,
under
with
by providingfor
fearful
to
one
no
them
sands
thou-
other
hearts,and
daily being
are
1 1
vent
pre-
better
way.
Will
think
of
moved
from
beg
these,my
by
cry
countrywomen,
and
impulse, to
free
who
life-long
slaveryand
you, friends and
compassion for
of India's
reach
name
this
common
all
philanthropists,
or
read
you
your
of
infernal
have
who
any
ears
and
stir your
the
the
of
America,
it
to
you,
true
In
of your
and
interest in
hearts.
name
most
women
misery?
daughters,feeble though
humanity, in
them
let
fellow-creatures,
your
in the
God,
rise,
educators
benefactors,
workers
as
responsibilities
of
book/
cause
the
be,
the
sacred
of hu-'
holy
and
name
men
gardless
borEoj^^mrhelp quickly,re-
of natiggftcaste