{
  "bookName": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
  "authorName": "M. K. Kuriakose",
  "publisherName": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
  "publicationYear": 2011,
  "chapterNumber": 130,
  "chapterName": "1887. Pandita Ramabai’s Proposals on Behalf of High-Caste Widows",
  "pageFrom": 246,
  "pageTo": 247,
  "pages": [
    {
      "pageNumber": 246,
      "ocrText": "246\nHISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA\nadjustments in favour of the Padroado were made, its territory was now\neffectively limited to the Portuguese territory of Goa, North Canara and the\ncoastal areas to the north, excluding Bombay; two small strips of territory on\nthe Kerala coast, Cochin and an area near Cape Comorin; the territory\nimmediately surrounding Mylapore, some of Tanjore, fourteen churches in\nthe Vicariate of Madura, and eight churches in Bengal. The Syro-Malabar\nChristians were also separated from the Padroado.)\n130. PANDITA RAMABAI'S PROPOSALS ON BEHALF OF\nHIGH-CASTE WIDOWS (1887 A.D.)\nPandita Ramabai, a Brahmin convert to Christianity, became\nfamous for her work on behalf of the women of India. The book\nfrom which the following extract is taken was written while she was\nvisiting America four years after having become a Christian. It led\nto the formation of the Ramabai Association and launched her on\nher life work. Ramabai, The High-Caste Hindu Woman, pp. 113-119.\nIs there then no way of helping and educating these high-caste\nwidows? Can none of these obstacles be removed from her path?\nYes! They can be removed, and the course which in my judgement\ncan most advantageously be taken in order to succor the widows\nand the women of India in general, may be stated as follows :-\n1. Houses should be opened for the young and high-caste\nchild-widows where they can take shelter without the fear of losing\ntheir caste, or of being disturbed in their religious belief and where\nthey may have entire freedom of action as relates to caste-rules,\nsuch as cooking of food, etc., provided they do not violate the rules\nor disturb the peace of the house wherein they have taken up their\nabode.\n2. In order to help them make an honourable and indepen-\ndent living, they should be taught in these houses to be teachers,\ngovernesses, nurses and house keepers, and should become skilled\nin other forms of hand-works, according to their taste and capacity.\n3. These houses should be under the superintendence and\nmanagement of influential Hindu ladies and gentlemen, who\nshould be pledged to make each a happy home and an instructive\ninstitution for those who seek its opportunities.\n4. The services of well-qualified American ladies as assistants\nand teachers should be secured in order to afford the occupants of\nthe houses the combined advantage of Eastern and Western civili-\nzation and education.",
      "status": "completed"
    },
    {
      "pageNumber": 247,
      "ocrText": "SOURCE MATERIALS\n247\n5. Libraries containing the best books on history, science,\nart, religion and other departments of literature should be estab-\nlished in these houses for the benefit of their inmates, and of other\nwomen in their vicinity who may wish to read. Lectureships\nshould also be established in the library, and the lectures should be\nengaged with the distinct understanding that they do not speak\nirreverently of any religion or sacred custom while lecturing in that\nhouse or library; the lecturers should embrace in their topics,\nhygiene, geography, elementary science, foreign travel, etc., and\nthe lectures should be designed primarily to open the eyes and ears\nof those who long have dwelt in the prison-house of ignorance,\nknowing literally nothing of God's beautiful world.\nIt is my intention after my return home (which I trust may be\nwithin a year from this time) to establish at least one such insti-\ntution. I am fully aware of the great responsibility the trial-and\nit may be the failure-will involve; but as some one must make a\nbeginning, I am resolved to try trusting that God, who knows the\nneed of my country-women, will raise up able workers to forward\nthis cause, whether I succeed in it or not. The great majority of\nmy country-people being most bitterly opposed to the education\nof women, there is little hope of my getting from them either good\nwords or pecuniary aid.\nFor the present it is useless to reason with high-caste Hindu\ngentlemen concerning this matter; they only ridicule the proposal\nor silently ignore it. There are some among them who would\ncertainly approve and would help to carry ry the idea into effect, but\nthey must first realize its advantages and see its good results. One\nmust have the power of performing miracles to induce this class of\nmen to receive the gospel of society's well-being through the eleva-\ntion of women. Such a miracle, I have faith to believe will be\nperformed in India before the end of the next ten years, and if this\nbe true, the enterprise will prove self-supporting after that period\nwith only native aid. There is even now a handful of Hindus\nentertaining progressive ideas who are doing all they can to reform\nthe religious and social customs of Hindustan, and who will, without\ndoubt support my work from the beginning; but they have little with\nwhich to forward the cause except their personal services.\nAn institution of the kind indicated, where the pupils may be\nsupported and the foreign teachers liberally paid for their services,\ncannot be founded and afterwards kept in a flourishing condition\nwithout money. Therefore I invite all good women and men of\nthe United States to give me their help liberally in whatever way\nthey may be able for a period of about ten years; it is my solemn\nbelief that it is the most sacred duty of those who dwell in this\nhighly favoured land to bestow freely talents of whatever kind\nthey may possess to help forward this educational movement.",
      "status": "completed"
    }
  ]
}