Evening star., 1902-08-02
NDIAN PRIN CESSES
HINDU FEMININE ROYALTIES
NOT ALWAYS CooPED UP.
A Low Caste Man May Be Prince and
Shine in London Society,
Too.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
There was not a little excitement in Lon
don recently over the presence of the
Maharani, Great Princess of Cooch Behar
at the courts held by King Edward. Her
frequent appearances in public and at So
cial functions with her husband called
forth much comment in the fashion jour
nails. 1t Is generally supposed that Indian
women of high rank never appear in pub
lie, but live secluded in zenanas This how
ever, is somewhat of misconception, for
their seclusion depends to a great extent
upon their religion, caste and personal
force of character to defy ancient custom
1t is true that as a rule Mohammedan
ladies never appear in public though even
to this rule there have been notable excep-
tions. Nur Mahal the great empress, ruled
India in her husbands name during the
seventeenth century. The wife of the late
Amir of Afghanistan dressed in male at
tire, and after her husbands death dis
persed in person the rioters at Cabul.
With the Hindu princesses the case is
different. Before the Mohammedan invas-
ion of India they were not secluded at all,
did not veil their faces, and went about
freely in public. Still, the Hindus do not
enforce 1t to the same extent as do the in
vaders.
Among the warike races, the Sikhs and
Marathas, their prncesses have always
been permitted to exercise considerable
freedom. Upon many occasions they have
ruled states with great wisdom, and when
driven by force Of circumstances have
bravely led their troops to battle.
This will explain why the Maharani Of
Cooch Behar, a Hindu as distinct from
Mohammedan princess Of India. is at pres
ent moving openly in London society. True.
she is not Of the highest caste, that is,
Brahmin-for a Brahmn cannot cross
the ocean without mourning the penalty of
communication. For the same reason
none Of the Indian princesses at present in
London Of the highest caste, though
some of them are Of the lowest. The great
Maharaja OF Gwalior, one of the wealth.
lest princes in India, has only to look back
few generations to discover an ancestor
who was a slipper bearer.
1t is fact not generally known that
there is no bar to prevent man of low
caste in India amassing wealth and rising
to become noble or a prince, but neither
he nor his descendants could ever aspire
to marry Brahmin princess, or Brah-
min woman of lower rank, for that matter.
When you have Hindu woman who is
a Brahmin and a princess, then you have
the most aristocratic and exclusive person
age at present on the earth, for she is not
only of royal. but of sacred blood. In ap-
pearance her form is graceful, her features
classic, her complexion is fairer than
that of many women of the occident, and
in general she is possessed of great beauty.
In contrast to the Mohammedan women
of rank, the Brahmin princesses are said
to be highly intellectual 1t is on the au-
thority of the Brahmins themselves that
it is believed some of the most beautiful
poetry Of the Vedas was written by their
women. Again. in contrast to the treat
ment accorded to the Mohammedan women,
the women of the Brahmins are regarded
with the highest respect by all classes OF
Hindus They have free access to the
temples, in right of their sacred origin;
indeed, there are certain religious ceremon-
les which cannot be performed without the
presence of their women.