{
  "bookName": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
  "authorName": "M. K. Kuriakose",
  "publisherName": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
  "publicationYear": 2011,
  "chapterNumber": 64,
  "chapterName": "1803. Carey on Inter-Caste Marriage in Serampore",
  "pageFrom": 76,
  "pageTo": 76,
  "pages": [
    {
      "pageNumber": 76,
      "ocrText": "76\nHISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA\nplea of custom would be inadmissible in excuse of the offence. But,\nfor the more effectual prevention of so inhuman a practice, the\nGovernor-General in council has enacted the following regulation,\nto be in force from the promulgation of it, in the provinces of\nBengal, Behar, Orissa, and Benares.\nThis is followed by a clause declaring the practice to be murder,\nand punishable with death.\n64. CAREY ON INTER-CASTE MARRIAGE IN\nSERAMPORE (1803 A.D.)\nThe marriage at Serampore of Krishna Prosad, a Brahmin convert,\nto the daughter of Krishna Pal, a Sudra, was of great significance in\nthe history of Christianity in Bengal and, indeed of India. Marriage\nwas the point at which caste barriers were most rigid. Carey\ndescribes the wedding in his diary. Cited in G. Smith, The Life of\nWilliam Carey, pp. 127-128.\nApril, 4, 1803-This morning early we went to attend the\nwedding of Krishna Prosad with Onunda, Krishna's (Pal) second\ndaughter. Krishna gave him a piece piece of ground adjoining his\ndwelling, to build him a house, and lent Prosad fifty rupees for that\npurpose, which he is to return monthly, out of his wages. We\ntherefore had a meeting for prayer in this new house, and many\nneighbours were present. Five hymns were sung: brother Carey\nand Marshman prayed in Bengali. After this we went under an\nopen shed close to the house, where chairs and mats were provided;\nhere friends and neighbours sat all around. Brother Carey sat\nat a table; and after a short introduction, in which he explained\nthe nature of marriage, and noticed the impropriety of the Hindoo\ncustoms in this respect, he read 2 Cor. vi. 14-18, and also the account\nof the marriage of Cana. Then he read the printed marriage\nagreement, at the close of which Krishna Prosad and Onunda,\nwith joined hands, one after the other, promised love, faithfulness,\nobedience, etc. They then signed the agreement, and brethren\nCarey, Marshman, Ward, Chamberlain, Ram Roteen, etc., signed\nas witnesses. The whole was closed with prayer by brother Ward.\nEverything was conducted with the greatest decorum, and it was\nalmost impossible not to have been pleased. We returned home\nto breakfast, and sent the new-married couple some sugar-candy,\nplantains, and raisins; the first and the last of these articles had\nbeen made a present of to us, and the plantains were the produce\nof the mission garden..\nApril, 5. This evening we all went to supper at Krishna's, and\nsat under the shade where the marriage ceremony had been per-\nformed. Tables, knives and forks, glasses, etc., having been taken",
      "status": "completed"
    }
  ]
}