New-York tribune., 1911-12-17
BEHIND THE PURDAH
India's Women ViesC Durbar
from Cmtained Stands.

The ewes OF the whole world are turned
upon India these days, there to be reward
ed With such visions Of jewelled magnihcence
as seem more like the Arabian Nights
Entertainment" than political gathering
In this prosaic twentieth century. For the
nonce." says a chronicler of the empire
"the hands of the clock OF Time were turned
back, and the splendor of lndia's ancient
days reigned supreme. The native princes
wed with one another in raiment that sur
passed Solomon in all his glory Their
robes were fashioned OF silks. satns and
velyets. crusted with gold embroderies and
precious stones and their jewels represent
ed the ransom OF a dozen potentates.'
And their queens and princesses? An
there's the curious thing. Not even to wei
come an Empress can the Hindu women ot
high degree permit their faces to be seen
OF man; so all the Oriental magnifcence IN
the procession was OF masculine attire The
ranis and begums looked on, mocestly mo-
den behind the purdah.
From behind curtsined stands along the
line OF march," II is explained. ladies of
Indian royal households witnessed the pro-
cession from strictly observed purdah. their
gorgeous saris and cleaning gems hidden
from the rude gaze OF the multitude"
Even Her Highness Nswab Sultan Jehan,
Begun Of Bhopal, who appeared with the
other native rulers 10 do homage to the En-
peror. did not forsake the traditions Of her
race, but, according TO the press reports,
wore the emblem Of sovereignty over her
veil. The Begun. who is one Of King
Georges honorary aides -de-camp. always
goes about heavily yelled in a volumlnous
'burga" that covers her from head to foot,
completely concealing the outlines of her
small figure. But, though she rules from
behind the curtain, she is said to hold the
reins OF government tightly in her hands
and 10 manage the affairs Of her small
principalty. with its million inhabitants,
with unusual wisdom. Her highness has
just returned to her homeland from Eng
land, where she was present as guest of
their ma iesties on the occasion of the re
cent coronation.
4 very few Of the royal women of India,
however, have had the courage TO defy ira
dition ana cast aside the veil. Among
these are the RAM OF Goudal. who was
the first high caste Hindu woman to free
herself from purdah. with her two daugh-
ters, the Princesses Bakuverba and Lei
iaba. They go about freely whether at
home or travelling abroad, making no pre-
tence at keeping up the seclusion prescribed
for women of their exalted rank
Both princesses have received liberal edu-
cations. The Princess Bakuverba is a
sculptor OF no mean ability. speaks English
fiuently drives a team OF Shetland ponies
and prefers 10 remain unmarried. Princess
Leilaba, who. like her elder sister. has
. been educated abroad is interested in
music literature and domestic economy.
Most advanced Of all Indian queens is
the Maharani Of Baroda, who was so re-
Gently in New York that II is a surprise TO
find her figuring now in the durbar on the
other side OF the world. Not only has the
Maharani a son who was graduated from
the Horace Mann School, in this city. and 10
now at Harvard University, but also she has
Just published book on the woman ques-
tion In India. In view of all this prosaic
enlightenment Of hers II is delightful TO
see her pictured in her Oriental robes. with