The Panjab by S. A. Wellman

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 6, 1911

The Panjab

By S. A. Wellman

S. A. WELLMAN

Among the unworked portions of the North India Mission, is the province of the Panjab. The eastern portion has had some work. An Indian brother has been singing and preaching throughout the state of Patiala. Though no one has accepted the truth, he is well thought of, even in the palace of the raja.

In Ambala several are inquiring after the truth, having been brought to a partial knowledge of its claims through the work of our canvassing brother, P. C. Poley. In Patiala City, a doctor has become interested through the same instrumentality, and at Lahore, the capital of the province, another man, prominent in the Indian Christian community, also a doctor with a good practice, has been influenced by the truth. Interests have been awakened in other places; and should it be possible to place a worker in this section at once, the results bid fair to be excellent. The Panjab people are among the most intelligent of India. . . .

The Panjab has a Mohammedan population of twelve millions, two thirds of its entire population. We have done but little for the people of this faith, and it is high time that we were putting forth an effort in behalf of the Moslems, who constitute over one fourth of the population of the Indian empire. They are a hard people to reach, but not more so than some others, in proportion to their privileges and the education they have received.

The Panjab is not our only unentered territory. The Sindi country, with three and one-half millions, occupying the valley of the lower Indus, is without workers. Karachi, the second port of India's west coast, is its chief city. Here a European brother in government employ faithfully lived the truth for some time. Last year he died, but his life and example have been felt. Some of our recent Sabbath-keepers on the west coast obtained much of their first knowledge of the truth from this brother; but with his death this whole territory has been left without one representative of the third angel's message.

Between the Sindi country and the United Provinces, lies the Rajputana agency. Here live ten million of the survivors of the ancient rajputs, the warriors of India. The country is mostly desert, but here and there are fertile portions, and several large cities are scattered about the agency. These ten million souls have no representative of the truth. How long must they wait?

To the south, in the Central Provinces, are millions of Hindi- and Hindustani-speaking people. These are good subjects for labor. Other missions have had excellent success throughout this region, and there is every reason to hope that we could do as well, had we the workers for the openings.

As we look out upon these unentered provinces, and see the density of the darkness and the millions that are yet to be warned, we should grow faint of heart at the prospect were it not for the promise of divine assistance. Here in the Hindustani portion of the field is as large a population as that of the United States, and half as many more that speak kindred tongues, yet in the North India Conference there are only two English-speaking men and three lady workers; and they are confining their efforts to the United Provinces. Daily we are praying that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers into his harvest. As we pray and work, we are hoping that with the blessing of God this help may not be long delayed.

Lucknow, India.