New-York tribune., 1901-09-09
HER WORK FOR INDIA.
MISS SoRABJI, A PARSEE, WHO is
FOUNDING CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS FOR
CHILDREN OF HER COUNTRY.

Miss s sorabn q native Parsee from Poona
India who has been heard at various religious
gatherings IN this vicinity this is devoting
her life 10 lettering the condition OF the children
Of India Miss Sorabji has four Christian schools
under her direction in Poona, and il is TO obtain
funds with which 10 erect permanent homes for
three of them, the Hindoo Ragged School the Vic
toris High School and the Mahometan School. that
she is n this country
Miss sorablrs father. a member OF one OF the
most distinguished native families IN India with
Two other men or rank became Christians IN lSz1.
His radical step was followed by q long period OF
persecution. which in way relaxed his efforts
in missionary enterprises At his death. seven
years ago. his wife and seven daughters continued
his work
Miss COrnela sorabji sister OF Miss S. Sorabji,
was The first woman IN India 10 receive the degree
of Bachelor Of Arts and the first woman.
well upon whom the degree Of Bachelor OF Com
mon Laws was conferred by Oxford University,
England Her work. says her sister. has been OF
inestirnable benefit to HindOo women. who. while
ly Hindoo law entitled TO the control OF their
property. are nevertheless, debarred from consult
ing mere lawyers the consequence being that by
the time justice filters down 10 a woman client
from her unseen counsel IL is injustice that she
receives.
Another sister is at present studying medicine in
England. and when she completes her course will
return 10 Inoia medical missionary.
Regarding Indian and their needs. Miss
sorabI said 10 a Tribune reporter yesterday:
India has 145 1000 women OF these, 25OoooOO are
~ 5 ~ ne ~ iqlh % sIg usse IheIe & y no ! wore
The only word that represents il is ''zenana," q"
the women OF a household are herded together,
their Individuality lost their spirits crushed and
the liberty which is the birthrisht of all women.
oeRied them. Some idea Of -woInan's s. place" in
tnols % may @ os gained rom literature, The sacred
. murderer. hut he who trusts a woman viii un-
in India was told that the Hin6oo was convinced Of
Two things; the sanctity Of the COW and the de-
woman II india may not learn to read, because
- ber bS,sfs ~ 4,s,, ,- = ~, 1. s t,
e denied her Religion is TO her merely round
q ceremony 70 proPitiate deities and satisfy the
opportunities Of a greedy and grasping priesthood
must pay large sums OF money TO the priest and
make useless offerings 10 the particular deity OF
She must rise long before DAYLIGHT 10 perform
hundreds OF ceremonies which are 10 gain her her
AFTER the little one comes into the world she
rim aIs,-a u ne - l = r @ $50 S1S ~ + h - Ae1P 2
TIE child: that duty deVolving on the paternal
grsndmother. 30 sooner. can the little one speak
than the grandmother delights IN teaching It a
string Of abuse 70 shower on its mother, who is
verify IS All the mother instinct is crushed out
Te.entess tyrant 10 her own daughter-in-law
@ the eder shaa do t6s f5 She f Sfev5s 0fs ta
was some sin committed by her in former life.
penalty her head is shaved her bangles broken,
i saa she must partake Of only one meal day.
Der shadow fall upon a man who IS going upon an
~ portsnt work he would curse her looking upon
lae occurrence as an eyil omen and would give
1p MS eFranc for that day.
Ihat son should with his hand fire 70
Us widowed mother the funeral pyre Of HIS
-etner seems incredible; yet until British SOW
l-etiY put q stop 70 II. LIS considered not
9ny religious duty. but q privilege Educated
Young men IN India fought against the reRula-
nons q Lord Bentinck, who ruled such proceed
tre IS crime They maintained that 81 was an
toms
The doctrine of the Parsees IS Zoroastrianisn.
they are the most prosperous moral and cultured
e-ass ~ the native population OF India.