THE SAD STATE OF WOMEN IN INDIA.
By Della T. Hotle
[Della T. Hotle, in Pentecost Herald.] Our hearts are stirred and we feel the burden and groans deeply as we look into the condition of things around us, and especially as we think of India women and girls. We know if the curtain could be lifted and dear ones in the home land could get a glimpse of their real condition, they would come to their help as never before. Truly the lot of India women is a sad one, and only God knows the extent of their suffering. Among the higher castes of the Hindus the little girl must be married by the time she is ten or eleven years of age, and many, many times they are married at an earlier age than that. Often in babyhood they are given away, or rather bargained for. If her betrothed dies, she is a widow as much as tho the marriage ceremony had been performed, and is never allowed to marry again. If the husband dies when she is only a child she may get on quite well, and not feel her disgrace for a while; but by the time she is fifteen years of age, her hair is shaven close to her head, her jewels are all taken off, she is no longer allowed to wear beautifully colored clothing, but a coarse sari is put upon her. She is is not allowed to go in society, no one cares to have her around. If one sees a widow the first thing in the morning, it is a sign of bad luck. If one is starting on a journey and a widow crosses his path, he will put off his intended trip till another day. She is considered to have been a most sinful creature in her former birth, and is punished in this life by being widowed.13 Formerly it was the custom for women to be burned on the funeral pile of their husbands. This custom existed at least two thousand years. While it was not compulsory, yet great pressure was brought to bear upon them in order to get them to take the step, and it was considered to be a great meritorious act by which they might obtain salvation. After a widow had taken upon her the vow to be burned upon the funeral pile, if her courage should fail at the last she could never be reinstated into her caste or family, but was rejected by all. After missionaries came into the country and the English got control, an order was passed prohibiting the burning of widows. Again the Purdah system, which exists among the higher castes, is a very bad one. Many poor girls from the time they are married are kept in close seclusion and not allowed to go outside of their doors, except as their faces are covered with a thick chudder, which is thrown over them and hangs nearly to the ground. Among some of the more strict Hindus and Mohammedans their women are taken out only on special occasions, and go in palanquins, or closely covered carts. Others are kept in still closer confinement and never allowed to leave their own doors. We heard of a woman who was never outside of her house but once, and that was when she was taken from her father's home to the home of her husband. We had the pleasure of calling on a high-caste family where there were two beautiful daughters living in a close, poorly-ventilated room with their mother. Before leaving we invited them to our home, to which they replied, “We are never allowed to go outside.” A son spoke up laughingly and said, “We keep our women in cages like birds.” Much more could be said upon this great and solemn subject, but time will not permit now. Dear friends, will you not pray that light may soon break in upon these dark and superstitious ones who know not the God of love. Raj Nandgaon, C. P. India.