Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1889-11-30
SOME CUSTOMS OF INDIA.
BY AN INDIAN WOMAN.


ex ertions of Mr.. B. NJ. Malabari, on the question
OF "lnfant Marriage and Enforced Widowhood"
things have come to light which never before had
been even suspected to be in existence.
Till then outsiders knew very little about our
misery. The Hindus themselves did not think
much of it, and of the few who did, none had the
courage to come forward and take the lead as Mr.
Malabar has been doing
This knd-hearted Parsee began his crusade five
years ago, and started on his first expedition to
travel all over India, regardless of time, money,
and trouble. He collected facts and gathered all
the information he COULD about the practice of
Infant Marriage and Enforced Widow,ood amongst
the Hindus.
These he laid before the public through the In
dian Spectator and other newspapers. The Hin
dus, unable to bear the disclosure of these most
terrible abuses and that too, by Parsee foreigner,
came forward from all quarters of India to defend
their own usages, which they believe to be sane
toned by their religion
In that strife every means was taken by the de-
tenders to mis- inform the public. 1t was stated
that Child Marriage was the only way to prevent
immortality in the nation; that to prevent the
country from being over populated it was neces-
sary that all women should not have children. 1t
was, therefore, necessary also that widows should
not be allowed to re-marry, ETC., etc. Now if the
object was to prevent over-popuation why should
not the same restriction be, in the name of justice,
inflicted on men?
1t is no wonder Hindu men do not see these
things in the way we women do. Their support
of the principle of polygamy and their practice of
it, blinds their eyes, for they hold it essential to
have an army of wives to each man. The thought
would never occur to them that on their own ar
gument they ought to do without any wife at all.
'What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the
gander"
Many people altogether denied the cruel treat
ment which widows are actually suffering from
the hands of society or custom, and pretended
that no paradise on earth would be more comfort
able for Hindu widow than the present position
she occupies in her community! People must
remember that all assertions of such nature are
put forth by men and not by women.
If Indian women were to come forward and tell
their own story, the world would be sure to hear
totally different account.
Take for instance Brahman, or any other
comparatively high caste girl, who has had the
misfortune to become widow at the age OF ten
or twelve years. The moment her boy husband
dies, whom she may not have seen since the mar
rage ceremony, the whole mode of the life of the
poor girl is completely changed.
She could, till then, amuse herself and joinNi
such games as are allowed to Indian girls. She
could 90 out with her mother to family gatherings
and festivities call upon her friends and relations,
dress and decorate herself as gally as she liked,
and be the first one in the family to take part in
all the religious ceremonies. But the moment the
husband dies all these things are stopped, and all
of sudden, as quick as lightning her life is COM
petely changed. Her childish happy ideas for
the future are instantly crushed TO death, as a
delicate flower while still in bud, is blighted and
withered by the severe frost of single night.
From that moment the seriousness OF an elderly
matron of fifty is expected of her. The first year
of her widowhood she must pass in one dark room
in the house as prisoner. year or two later