The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-07-25
INDIAN WIDOWS,
A Remarkable Social Advance in Hfndo
stan.


stan.
English papers, which come to us
with several columns of extracts from
the Indian press, tell of a very remark
able social advance effected under En-
glish rule in Hindostan. This is espe-
cially noticeable in regard to the condi-
ton of woman in India to-day.
compared to her situation at the begin
ming of this century. 1t was only in
1881 that the practice of burning widows
was abolished by the Government: and
up to that time, as Max Muller observes.
women were burned wholesale. even
in the immediate neighborhood of Cal
cutta." During 1923, N the Bengal
Presidency alone, SO widows were
burned; i'll the very limits of the Cal
cutta Court Of Circuit 80 were burned.
Numbers of these were beautiful Young
girls under twenty; and yet the first
effort to secure the abolition of the hid
eouS custom was made, not by Euro
pean but an enlightened Hindoo. Ram
mohun Roy. He held, with good reason,
that the practice of suffice was not
ordained by the great teachers of HindOo
religion, and not justified by the ancient
Sanscrit texts. In the controversy which
he provoked he invariably came out
cOnqueror; but controversy alone will
not suffice to cXtermnate a national
curse or to uproot an ancient supersti-
ton. Therefore it was that he estab-
lished, about 1918, the 'Society of Be-
levers in the Supreme" or Brahma-
Il t,1, l..
Brahminical party founded an opposi-
ton society, called the Society of the
Law" or Dharma-Somai, and this So
ciety at once petitioned the English
Government against the abolition of
suffice.
One would have thought that such a
question could not have been long dis
cuSsed in vain before enlightened En-
glish rulers-that the cause of humanity
would only have had to plead once in
order to triumph. But such was not
the case. Governments act upon policy;
and the abolition of suffice involved
some social problems of the graveSt
character. 1t was only in 1881. when
Rammohun Roy himself went to Lon
don, that the Government finally re-
iected the prayers of the orthodox
party and decided to abolish the abom-
Unable and monstrous custom OF burn
ing women alive.
The new decree did not, however. do
so much for women in India as had
been expected. While the practice Of
widow-burning was indeed put an end
to the unfortunate young woman who
lost her husband was not protected
against the crueltics of prejudice and
superstition. Her very existence was
considered an indecent fact: she was
/ universally treated with contempt. de-
prived of whatever property she pos
| sessed. condemned to perform mental
labor and often driven to commit sui
eide Gradually this state of affairs
ameHOratcd; but the idea of a widow
rcmarrving was still considered shock
| ing in the extreme. The next reform
to be attempted was to make q second
marriage popular, and a new society
was founded for that purpose, which
has already accomplished much good
1t publishes a periodical devoted to its
object, and this paper. entitled the
Socjq1 Rct0rh1cr, is full of matrimonial
advertisements of very sincere and
decorous description. We cite some
examples:
4 WIDOW OF BENGALI BRAHMIN
y caste. u years of age, lost her husband
SIX months after marriage. Her father wishes
10 give her IN marriage toa Bengal Brahmin
OF high clan.
4 BENGALI LADY, OF BRAHAIGN CASTE.
y who became Il widow when she was II
years of age and who possesses a fair com
plcNion ana long, beautiful hair. and whose
fi slf4T9 tr.Y,
prepared to marry gentleman Of her own
caste according 10 orthodox rites.
THE Guardians OF \ KIIATRT CASTE
l lad Of kapnr clan, aged T.. who is the
scion of highly respected family and is re-
cciving education in English ana Persian
arc willing TO encourage the system of widow
marriage 10y marrying him with a widow of
the same caste.
- EQUIRED, A MATCH FOR A BENGALI
II widow Of a Nadya caste aged A. who had
been married at her llth, and lost her hus-
band al her 18th. She is of wheat complexion.
Bcugali tolcrahy well, knows the alphabet
of English, and is very intelligent; can knit
comtortCrS, stockings, etc, pretty well. and
is very willing to work. The candidate must
I've a member Of the Naidya caste aud of
respectable family. He must hc well edu-
Gated and OF good moral character.
y EQUIRED, AN EDUCATED WIDOW. l3
Ii to IL years of age. She should hc of good
SldpC, feature, cOlnplcNlOn, temper ana
health, and not suffering from any hereditary
disease, daughter of a well-tO-dO gentleman
and of respectable caste-fOr an enlightened
young Bengal Iimindar UuHd}OTon of respect
able caste and family, accomplished we'll
built. ami free from every present ana lido
pathic mulady. He is prepared to meet
agreeable demands, and in order to en-
courage widow marriages amongst the
mobiles and CENTRES. he is DESTROYS of pre-
scnting the bride NJ the wedding with Jewels
worth 10000 rupees.
In England or America this sort of