The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-11-10
ANKLES TYPIFY
WOMEN, INDIAN
LEADER STATES
Madame Naidu Says American
Women Remind Her of
Graceful Swallows

New York, No.. 1O.-American
women remind Madame Sarojini
Naidu Of slim, beautiful birds. To-
days leading woman Of India, who
succeeded Mahatma Ghandi as presi-
dent of the Indian National Council,
and has co..le to this country as the
spokesman of her people, became
most enthusiastic about the western
woman.
"They are like swallows" she
went on, so graceful, straight and
tall. There is strength as we'll as
beauty in their figures. And their
slender ankles-how pleasing they
are, not only because of their sculp-
tural perfection and activity. They
typify emancipation"
Madame Naidu, who was christ
ened Sarojini Chattopadhuay, po-
litically is the greatest woman In
dia has produced. Born q Brain
min, in family Of great learning
and Intellectual standing. she was
carefully educated in a country
where most of the women are il
literate.
At is, she went to England and
spent three years in a British Uni
versity, where she wrote creditable
verses which later were published.
W.T. Out OF Caste
On her return to her native coun-
try in 1889 she startled the Indian
world by marrying a DR.. Naidu,
who, although an intellectual, was
not Of her caste. So the union was
a scandal. Since his death she has
plunged into her chosen work, that
OF emancipating the women of india.
Madame Naidu is small woman,
but she is dynamic. Her Hindu cos
tune, which she always wears, with
its draperies, contrasting colors,
heavy chains and gold earrings,
claims first glance. A second one,
however, focuses attention on face
which seems extraordinarily intelli-
gent and wise, with alert, beautiful
brown eyes.
She is arousing her country wom-
en- to a fight for the eradication of
all the social and political handicaps
placed on them by the caste sys-
tenn. She assails "purdah" which
means keeping women in seclusion,
child marriages and enforced widow
hood, though she points out that
these three evils are not universal
in India and that they are not un-
known in other parts of the orient.
Not a Feminist
Il have been here such a short
tlme," she said, that l cannot be-
gin to judge America or the Amer
lcan woman, or make any estimate
OF what western freedom has done
Tor women. But all that have
seen so far of American women and
American homes has been most at
tractive to me.
To me, the home is most i'm
portant. 1t is woman's natural
sphere. The home groups here
seem much smaller to me than in
my own country. There we care
for our whole families, our rela-
tons, our ,randmother's first cou-
sin and our fifth cousins husband"
Madame Naidu says she is not a
FEMINIST because she does not feel
the necessity OF separate woman's
movement. She does not believe
that there is any arbitrary division
o. mans work and woman's. but
that each should do the special work
Tor which he or she is fitted.
Unprecedented Honor
In viev Of the existing situation
IN India, where only one per cent Of
the women can read or write, Ma
Dame Naidu's election to the presi-
dency of the Indian Congress- in
1876 was a significant honor and a
great tribute to her political saga
city and her organizing ability.
Speaking of her accomplishments.
she said: 'en'0'
=. - have quelled riot, led a DO
litlcal party and raised q family Of
TOUR children: However, can't add,
and don't know geography"