{
  "book_metadata": {
    "book_name": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
    "book_author": "M. K. Kuriakose",
    "publisher": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
    "published_on": "2011"
  },
  "chunks": [
    {
      "chunk_index": 1,
      "chapter_name": "1887. Pandita Ramabai’s Proposals on Behalf of High-Caste Widows",
      "page_numbers": [
        246
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00270-109ec8fde50587e623c0.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Ramabai’s Work for Indian Women",
      "chunk_data": "130. PANDITA RAMABAI'S PROPOSALS ON BEHALF OF HIGH-CASTE WIDOWS (1887 A.D.)\n\nPandita Ramabai, a Brahmin convert to Christianity, became famous for her work on behalf of the women of India. The book from which the following extract is taken was written while she was visiting America four years after having become a Christian. It led to the formation of the Ramabai Association and launched her on her life work. Ramabai, The High-Caste Hindu Woman, pp. 113-119.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1887,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1887,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1887"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Pandita Ramabai"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India",
          "America"
        ],
        "event": "Pandita Ramabai became known for her Christian work on behalf of Indian women, leading to the formation of the Ramabai Association.",
        "tags": [
          "Religion",
          "Women",
          "Education"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 2,
      "chapter_name": "1887. Pandita Ramabai’s Proposals on Behalf of High-Caste Widows",
      "page_numbers": [
        246
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00270-109ec8fde50587e623c0.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "A Way to Help High-Caste Widows",
      "chunk_data": "Is there then no way of helping and educating these high-caste widows? Can none of these obstacles be removed from her path?\n\nYes! They can be removed, and the course which in my judgement can most advantageously be taken in order to succor the widows and the women of India in general, may be stated as follows :-",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1887,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1887,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1887"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Pandita Ramabai"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "Pandita Ramabai proposed a course of action to help and educate high-caste widows and Indian women.",
        "tags": [
          "Women",
          "Education",
          "Social Reform"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 3,
      "chapter_name": "1887. Pandita Ramabai’s Proposals on Behalf of High-Caste Widows",
      "page_numbers": [
        246
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00270-109ec8fde50587e623c0.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Shelters for Child-Widows",
      "chunk_data": "1. Houses should be opened for the young and high-caste child-widows where they can take shelter without the fear of losing their caste, or of being disturbed in their religious belief and where they may have entire freedom of action as relates to caste-rules, such as cooking of food, etc., provided they do not violate the rules or disturb the peace of the house wherein they have taken up their abode.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1887,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1887,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1887"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Pandita Ramabai",
          "High-caste child-widows"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "Pandita Ramabai proposed opening houses where high-caste child-widows could live without losing caste or religious freedom.",
        "tags": [
          "Women",
          "Social Reform",
          "Religion"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 4,
      "chapter_name": "1887. Pandita Ramabai’s Proposals on Behalf of High-Caste Widows",
      "page_numbers": [
        246
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00270-109ec8fde50587e623c0.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Training for Independent Livelihoods",
      "chunk_data": "2. In order to help them make an honourable and independent living, they should be taught in these houses to be teachers, governesses, nurses and housekeepers, and should become skilled in other forms of hand-works, according to their taste and capacity.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1887,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1887,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1887"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Pandita Ramabai",
          "High-caste child-widows"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "Pandita Ramabai proposed vocational training to help widows earn an honourable and independent living.",
        "tags": [
          "Women",
          "Education",
          "Social Reform"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 5,
      "chapter_name": "1887. Pandita Ramabai’s Proposals on Behalf of High-Caste Widows",
      "page_numbers": [
        246
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00270-109ec8fde50587e623c0.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Houses Managed by Hindu Leaders",
      "chunk_data": "3. These houses should be under the superintendence and management of influential Hindu ladies and gentlemen, who should be pledged to make each a happy home and an instructive institution for those who seek its opportunities.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1887,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1887,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1887"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Pandita Ramabai",
          "Influential Hindu women and men"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "Pandita Ramabai proposed that influential Hindu women and men manage the houses as supportive homes and educational institutions.",
        "tags": [
          "Women",
          "Education",
          "Social Reform"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 6,
      "chapter_name": "1887. Pandita Ramabai’s Proposals on Behalf of High-Caste Widows",
      "page_numbers": [
        246
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00270-109ec8fde50587e623c0.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "American Teachers and Eastern Education",
      "chunk_data": "4. The services of well-qualified American ladies as assistants and teachers should be secured in order to afford the occupants of the houses the combined advantage of Eastern and Western civilization and education.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1887,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1887,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1887"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Pandita Ramabai",
          "American women teachers"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India",
          "America"
        ],
        "event": "Pandita Ramabai proposed employing qualified American women as assistants and teachers.",
        "tags": [
          "Education",
          "Women",
          "Religion"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 7,
      "chapter_name": "1887. Pandita Ramabai’s Proposals on Behalf of High-Caste Widows",
      "page_numbers": [
        247
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00271-f602686379e525e46c33.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Libraries and Lectures for Women",
      "chunk_data": "5. Libraries containing the best books on history, science, art, religion and other departments of literature should be established in these houses for the benefit of their inmates, and of other women in their vicinity who may wish to read. Lectureships should also be established in the library, and the lectures should be engaged with the distinct understanding that they do not speak irreverently of any religion or sacred custom while lecturing in that house or library; the lecturers should embrace in their topics, hygiene, geography, elementary science, foreign travel, etc., and the lectures should be designed primarily to open the eyes and ears of those who long have dwelt in the prison-house of ignorance, knowing literally nothing of God's beautiful world.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1887,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1887,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1887"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Pandita Ramabai",
          "Women in India"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "Pandita Ramabai proposed libraries and respectful lectures on religion, hygiene, geography, science, and foreign travel.",
        "tags": [
          "Education",
          "Women",
          "Religion"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 8,
      "chapter_name": "1887. Pandita Ramabai’s Proposals on Behalf of High-Caste Widows",
      "page_numbers": [
        247
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00271-f602686379e525e46c33.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Ramabai Plans Her First Institution",
      "chunk_data": "It is my intention after my return home (which I trust may be within a year from this time) to establish at least one such institution. I am fully aware of the great responsibility the trial—and it may be the failure—will involve; but as some one must make a beginning, I am resolved to try trusting that God, who knows the need of my country-women, will raise up able workers to forward this cause, whether I succeed in it or not.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1887,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1888,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1887–1888"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Pandita Ramabai",
          "God"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "Pandita Ramabai resolved to establish an institution for high-caste widows after returning to India.",
        "tags": [
          "Women",
          "Education",
          "Religion"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 9,
      "chapter_name": "1887. Pandita Ramabai’s Proposals on Behalf of High-Caste Widows",
      "page_numbers": [
        247
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00271-f602686379e525e46c33.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Opposition to Women’s Education",
      "chunk_data": "The great majority of my country-people being most bitterly opposed to the education of women, there is little hope of my getting from them either good words or pecuniary aid.\n\nFor the present it is useless to reason with high-caste Hindu gentlemen concerning this matter; they only ridicule the proposal or silently ignore it. There are some among them who would certainly approve and would help to carry the idea into effect, but they must first realize its advantages and see its good results.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1887,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1887,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1887"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Pandita Ramabai",
          "High-caste Hindu gentlemen"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "Pandita Ramabai described opposition from most of her countrymen and the limited support available from progressive Hindu gentlemen.",
        "tags": [
          "Women",
          "Education",
          "Social Reform"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 10,
      "chapter_name": "1887. Pandita Ramabai’s Proposals on Behalf of High-Caste Widows",
      "page_numbers": [
        247
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00271-f602686379e525e46c33.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Faith in Social Transformation",
      "chunk_data": "One must have the power of performing miracles to induce this class of men to receive the gospel of society's well-being through the elevation of women. Such a miracle, I have faith to believe will be performed in India before the end of the next ten years, and if this be true, the enterprise will prove self-supporting after that period with only native aid. There is even now a handful of Hindus entertaining progressive ideas who are doing all they can to reform the religious and social customs of Hindustan, and who will, without doubt support my work from the beginning; but they have little with which to forward the cause except their personal services.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1887,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1897,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1887–1897"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Pandita Ramabai",
          "Progressive Hindus"
        ],
        "places": [
          "India",
          "Hindustan"
        ],
        "event": "Pandita Ramabai expressed faith that social reform through women's elevation would transform India within ten years.",
        "tags": [
          "Women",
          "Social Reform",
          "Religion"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "chunk_index": 11,
      "chapter_name": "1887. Pandita Ramabai’s Proposals on Behalf of High-Caste Widows",
      "page_numbers": [
        247
      ],
      "image_paths": [
        "raw\\pages\\00271-f602686379e525e46c33.webp"
      ],
      "chunk_title": "Appeal for American Financial Support",
      "chunk_data": "An institution of the kind indicated, where the pupils may be supported and the foreign teachers liberally paid for their services, cannot be founded and afterwards kept in a flourishing condition without money. Therefore I invite all good women and men of the United States to give me their help liberally in whatever way they may be able for a period of about ten years; it is my solemn belief that it is the most sacred duty of those who dwell in this highly favoured land to bestow freely talents of whatever kind they may possess to help forward this educational movement.",
      "time": {
        "start_year": 1887,
        "start_month": null,
        "start_date": null,
        "end_year": 1897,
        "end_month": null,
        "end_date": null,
        "time_display": "1887–1897"
      },
      "meta": {
        "people": [
          "Pandita Ramabai",
          "Women and men of the United States"
        ],
        "places": [
          "United States",
          "India"
        ],
        "event": "Pandita Ramabai appealed to people in the United States for ten years of financial and practical support for her educational institution.",
        "tags": [
          "Education",
          "Women",
          "Social Reform"
        ]
      }
    }
  ]
}