Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-04-07
PTNDITA RAMABAI.
The Daughter of an Ostracised Brahmin
Justifies Her Fathers Views.

Justifies Her Fathers Views.
From the Philadelphia Bulletin.
There was a scene presented at AS
ISOLATION Hall recently which was In
some respects altogether unique. Be-
fore large audience, and surrounded
by fifty or sixty of the best women of
Philadelphia, stood Hindoo woman
Of high caste, her slight figure wrapped
in the white robe of Indian widow
hood, out of which looked q face of
most picturesque beauty and express
sion. Pundita Ramabaiis the daughter
ola Brahmin gentleman of high rank,
who ostracised himself and his daugh-
ters by his enlightened views on the
subject OF female education. After his
death and that of her sister, who had
shared her peculiar educational ad-
vantages, Pundita Ramabai Travelled
extensively in her own country, final
ly embracing Christianity. Upon the
death of her husband, and under the
pressure of the onerous conditions of
Hindoo widowhood and her desire to
serve the cause of her fellow-Women,
she went to England, where her high
literary attachments obtained her a.
position as teacher of Sanskrit in a
wOman's college. She has now visit
ed America to witness the graduation
of her niece, DIR. Anandibai Joshee,
who, with her husband, was present.
The address delivered by Pundita
Ramabai was unwritten. Standing
in an easy attitude, with her hands
clasped upon the desk before her, and
speaking with voice of the most mu-
1141
with the unembarassed manner of
genuine simplicity, she told the story
OF Hindoo womanhood to her Ameri-
can audience in fashion that won all
hearts and riveted all attention. For
three-quarters Of an hour this Hindoo
lady spoke Of heconditions and needs
Of her sex In her native land in strain
Of gentle, high-bred earnestness, and
with SO much nobility OF sentiment
and maturity of Judgment as to prove
herself g. woman who would be re-
markable under any nativity. Her
description of the domestic and social
relations of Hindoo womanhood was
given with an almost childlike simple
ity, and without the slightest attempt
at the sensational or rhetorical. It
was stamped with all the force OF the
genuine native eloquence that depends
upon the truth for the force Of it's i'm
preston.
She urged the dependence upon
united missionary effort in India in
the interest of woman's education
rather than upon the disiointed and
conflicting efforts at UNCONVENTIONAL
PROSECUTING. Cooperation on the
part Of all Christian people with the
growing sentiment among India's own
best educated people in favor of the
emancipation of woman from her
present social bondage and ignorance
was the remedy urged by this Hindoo
missionary to the Christian people of
America. The simple manner in
which she pressed the teachings of the
New Testament upon her hearers was
irresistible. And when the earnest
little lady suddenly closed her address
by asking an American company of
educated and refined men and women
to join with her in q moments silent
prayer ''to the Great Father of all
the nations of the earth" in behalf of
the millions of her Hindoo sisters, to
whose cause she has given her life,
there was something almost startling
in the strangeness of the unique situa-
ton.
Pundita Ramabai speaks English
with an astonishing freedom and &C
curacy. Her address evinced a mas
terry of English idiom, accent and pro-
nunciation which is almost incredible.
Very few Americans of either sex could
have told her story half so we'll as she
told it, Never at a loss for the prop
er phrase, and never failing in the ex-
act use OF it, with g. strong, clear, mu-
steal information that easily filled the
auditorium, she proved herself at
once the finished inguist and elocu-
ZIONIST; her whole effort beautlfed by
gentle modesty of bearing that fas-
cinated all hearers.
Pundlta Ramabai was introduced
by her hostess, DR.. Rachel l.. Bodley,
in most happy allusion to the bridge
of womanly sympathy which, begin
ming with Harriet Newell, seventy one
years age, had gradually been built
across the great chasm between Amer
lea and India DR.. Bodley referred
gracefully to the fact that all the
travel hitherto had been from West to
East, across Un1S DrlQge, unU1l q SOIL
tary woman, Mrs. Joshee, had been
seen, two years ago, crossing from
East to West, on her brave expedition
in the cause of woman's education in
India. DR.. Joshee had come to Amer
lea as Hindoo; as g. Hindoo she was
going back, crowned with the fruits of
her patient, persistent labor and study,
the first native Indian woman to bear
the diploma of the medical profession
in her own country. DR.. Bodley elo-
quently welcomed DR.. Joshee's rela-
tive, Pundita Ramabai, in the name
Of the women of Philadelphia, and
then presented her to her expectant
audience. The whole unique affair
was admirably managed, and made a
profound impression on all present.