The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-12-24
THE EDUCATION or WOMAN IN INDIA.
A Young Hindoo widow Leads the Move.
ment for Emancipation.

CALCUTTA, Dec. 10.-Pandita Romahai, the
learned lIindoo lady who has consccrated her
life to the noble work of promoting female edu-
cation in India has aroused profound interest
by course OF lectures which she Is delivering
in Bombay. She is II widow. aged barely 25.
and renowned among the natives for her know-
edge Of Sanskrlt. and for her complete cmanc-
patton from all narrow and dcbasing Supersti;
tons There was a very nrgc attendance OF
liindoO and PaiSoc ladies' Mt her first lecture.
and tho hall was crowded TO excess.
The lecturer. who was mpdrsty attired in
slmple white dress spoke with perfect llucncy
and complete sclf-posscssion, She dwo,t mt
education. and impressed upon the mcmbcrs
OF hcrscX the Importance Of cultivnting and
advance With tSc progross Of ' TIE T lines Il
cation i hid boon making rapid strides
the young women who were destined TO
Win tho yonSs u II Views eo Sns
culture should keep pncc with them. llappi-
mes? was the result of peace and harmony. and
thoughts md actions of two persons, were di-
roctcd toward the same ends. In order there
fore. to secure domestic .hapinesss which was
cry female to conform her habits and ways OF
thinking, to those Of her partner. -. To acquire
necessary that ono should receive u certain
AMOUNT Of liberal education. ,
The system of education as now Unmarried 70
girls was defective in its principles. The girls
should BY means Of education be taught to
did. At present. the males received education
Of liberal character, which the females never
did. and hence 1t was that tho ways Of the ono
were never Mt one with those of the other. 1t
was kc the case Of two men tied together ono
Of whom had tendency to 20 ahead and tho
OF all motion.
In one way. or another. women were capable
of ACCOMPLISHING extraordinary feats OF valor,
in illustration of which the lecturer gave several
instances from the Mahabharnta aud othcr
ancient books Of history. If women ike men.
they were also fit to be- educated like them. As
to what women could do on tho field Of battle.
The lecturer cited the instance of ShiIiabai. tho
Queen Of Bcnarcs. who conquered her enemy
as II II were by word of mouth. She sent him
IL challenge on the battlefield, stating that II
she were defeated people would only say that
she was woman md it wGs, no wonder that
every one would look upon him with scorn and
contempt.
Tho Chairman proposed vote Of thanks to
the lecturer. and ii was carried with acciama-
ton.
a native newspaper, commenting on the re-
snts OF her lecture, writes as follows;
something of an electric effect on the largo
lectures. For the first time in tier lives they
have seen one of their own sex. speaking THEN
own language and attircl in their costume.
stand before a largo audience and deliver
lectures without betraylng the least sign Of
After the Pandita had finished. tho ladies
present were asked to express their thoughts
on tho subject which she had dwelt upon.
This request was made with some doubt AS ia
its being acted upon. The native Indies were
hardly expected to take up the hint and FOR
some minutes after il was made they looked at
ono another as il they could not understand
what it meant. But all of a sudden the ice oi
reserve was broken. and one of the ladies
present gathered courage and stood up to
have her say. and she said it with GOODNESS
which was certainly commcndaple: She was
followed by another lady. and then Il good
many rose one after another. as if the iniiu.
encc of the learned lecturer had worked power.
fully among those present. The fair speakers
acquitted themselves admirably Perhaps the
thoughts they expressed were crude, but tho
manner in which they wero expressed was
more than encouraging.
one lady in her admiration Of the Pnndita
called her the native ladies' advocate (Nakcen.
mother lady WIS so enthusiastic in her praise
Of tho PGndiia rs to tel the audience that she
was, in the speakers opinion, specially created
by Providence for the salvation of the women
OF India A third lady called upon those of her
sex present there to Judge. from the Panditas
example. what a woman could be and could ne
compish So marked and immediate was tina
influence Of Pandita Eomabal's appearnnne be-
fore the Bombay public that nearly half n dozen
OF the ladies present We'd eagerly with one an
other for the privilege Of gracefully speaking
to the audience in praise of their able and
learned sister. Even the most hopeful Of
pared for this sin""l"r. Tut most. delightful