Morning journal and courier., 1888-02-11
PUNDITA RAMABAI.

The Work of This Devoted and Guilt
 vated Hindu Lady-EfOrts in This
 City to Ala Her Noble Work.
 Pundita Ramabai's noble work is not un- familiar to readers of the New Haven papers, as here as in various other cities and towns @ Ramabai circle exists, and some months ago this energetic little lady addressed large audience in the Church of the Redeemer at the annual meeting of the women's board of missions. Later she again visited New Haven in the interest of the work to which she has devoted her life, the elevation of the women of India. She is now again visiting this city, a guest of Mrs. Henry Farnam on Hillhouse avenue, and yesterday afternoon meeting
 was held at the Farnam residence to assist in
 Q special effort now being made to raise fund of $25, 900 to be devoted to the estab-
 ishment in India of college for the educa-
 tion of that much to be pitied class, the
 Hindu widow. As says writer in the New York Evangelist, ''As one reads the history
 of this remarkable woman, herself Hindu
 widow, and the story of her hard struggle for the emancipation of her sisters from the
 tyranny of the laws and customs of her people, one cannot but feel admiration and
 sympathy" In the college she hopes to found the child widows gathered for instruction are
 
 are to have 'entire freedom of action as re- lates to caste rules" and lecturers are to be engaged s'with the distinct understanding that they do not speak irreverently of any religion or sacred custom"
 Pundita Ramabai says: Although we can not enforce the study of religion in our school home for widows, we shall encourage them if they choose to be acquainted with the teach ings of Christ; Christian literature will be placed in our school library, besides each pupil will have copy of the Bible given to
 her with request to read it for herself. And then we must leave the work of their conver- sion to the holy spirit.
 "Our duty is clearly set before us. A work of the kind that propose to begin is much needed in India. Thousands upon thousands
 are in sore distress and even dying for want of knowledge and means by which to escape
 enforced widowhood with all its hardships. My work IS designed to give assistance to
 those whom the foreign missionaries cannot
 and do not usually reach. It will be clearly
 understood from the last chapter of my book, | The High Caste Hindu Woman that the contemplated school home for child widows for which am soliciting the help of all good people, is to be one where the pupils will be supported as well as educated" |"
 The "circles" above spoken of are organ ized to raise funds to supply the running ex- penses of the proposed college, which will be about $5, 900 per annum. It is expected that with the college built it will after few years be self-sustaining. The meeting yesterday at Mrs. Farnam's in this city was part of concerted effort in this country, of lamong people warmly inter ested in the work Pundita Ramabai to raise funds for the establishment of the much de- sired college. At the meeting $100 was rais- ed. About twenty persons were present. Additional contributions will, no doubt, be received in this city, and any who may wish to aid this benevolent enterprise may send their contributions to Mrs. Professor F. R. Honey, IA Lincoln street. Pundita Ram abai goes to-day to Middletown, Ct, to or ganize circle there, after which she will organize one in Hartford. The lady finds
 our northern cline very trying, her home being in @ cline so much warmer than .ours of age, 8 charming conversationalist, of rare mental gifts and most thoroughly devoted to her philauthropic work She con verses very fuently in English. She has
 been, as is well known, prominent figure at religious and educational gatherings in this country for several months past. At many of them she has appeared clad in the simple white garments of her race and condition and
 has told the story of the wants of her dusky sisters with simplicity and longing which has won all hearts. She is a slender, gentle little creature with the dusky color of her people, 6 low and musical voice and expres- sive eyes and bears upon her forehead the high caste mark. Only three high caste Hindu ladies as far as known hae ever visit ed America, of whom Pundita Ramabai is by far the most famous.