The Washington times., 1894-11-12
SOCIAL LIFE IN INDIA.
DIR. GandhL Eminent Hindoo Scholar. Says
the Religion and Customs OF His
Country Are Misunderstood

the Religion and Customs OF His
Country Are Misunderstood.
A large audience listened with pleasure and
interest last night at Metzerott Hall to an az
position Of the social life in India, by DR..
Gandhi, an eminent Hindoo scholar Dr..
Gandhi appeared on the stage in the typical
garb OF his nation. His hair was bound IN
yellow turDan. Over q silk vest and partly
over his trousers of brown silk he wore long
coat of brown silk, around his waist being
sash of yellow silk. His features are well
moulded, complexion dark olive, black hair,
brown eyes and black mustache and serious
expression
he began his discourse by quoting three
consecutive sentences from Max Muller, being
a translation of a single sentence from the
language of the HindOos, TO the effect that
India Is the land Of most interest scientifically,
religiOusly, and socially 10 the Investigators
of the world. De next resented with consid.
erable warmth the imputation upon the Hin
docs that they are race Of liars. This state
ment, he said, was based on a conspicuous
lack of information. ana against that refiec-
tiOn he quoted the opposite side as given by
Max Muller, Prof Wilson. OF Oxford, the
Greek Arian. and passages from Chinese
travellers in India, the contrary arguments
being from writers before and after Christ.
He did not claim, however, that lying was un-
known in India.
In his country truth is an absolute idea,
and, so described. it is to be found as the
leading characteristic of the heroes Of India's
epic poetry.
Generally speaking, he could say thaG
writers on Indian affairs got their Information
ut OF the cities, and there they only see the
outside Hindoo life OF the higher and lower
classes. 1t was in the country. in the vlliagee
and the hamlets that the true. typical Htndoo
was to be found He then briefly sketched
the simple devotional life Of the peasantry.
There is no rush or push among the Hin
docs. Money-making is not the object Of his
life. He wishes only to be above want There
is no keen competition, no monopoly or
wealth. After business he again goes to the
temple, and then ar O'Clock with some, or
and with others, they take the evening meal
Then they talk quietly in their own homes or
visit each other. The higher classes may
visit the theaters, while the poorer classes 90
out under the trees for social amusements,
which are nearly all OF a religious nature
He severely criticised the custom Of speak,
ing about the Hindoo religion from the
Christian standpoint. When missionaries
spoke of only one true religion, only one
Bible, only one Jesus Christ it grated harshly
on the ears of the liberal Hindoo, whose lead
inc religious thought is universal love and
charity Hindoo children, who are meta
physicians at eight years OF age, are taught
/ to bow down to every spiritual master among
men or among gods, and they naturally do
not understand the arrOgancs OF all love, all
charity ali truth to one master. They bow
| down to every Jesus Christ of every nation.
/ In conclusion he said that it was problem
/ attic to what extent the Western civilization
! would influence that OF India, but he agreed
with Max Muller that the West would benefit
/ by an exchange of intellectual products. The
probable effect of the introduction Of the
Western civilization he would discuss in
succeeding lecture.