Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-23
WOMEN ARE POWER
IN MODERN INDIA
Missionaries Here After
Years in Bengal Tell of I'm.
proved Conditions.


hidden and ignorant--who exercises the
real power in modern India.
Because she turns the enormous
weight of her authority to the support
Of the ancient superstitions which
Cypress her and make her happy, India
remains In darkness.
This paradoxical situation was ex-
planned yesterday by Rev. John B.
Delaunay, former professor at Catholic
University and Brother Anthony. who
are now at the Holy Cross Foreign
Mission House at Catholic University,
after several years service in Bengal.
A great wave Of Western education is
sweeping over India, said Father
Delaunay, but it will produce little sub
stantial change In the customs of the
country until 1t reaches the real rulers,
the mothers, who are especially opposed
to any measures leading to the ameliora-
ton Of women.
Father Delaunay's picture is far Diff
ferent from that Of recent writer's who
have pictured the women of India as
helpless. abused and down trodden. The
boys. he said, flock to the mission and
government high schools in numbers
too great for the growing accommoda-
tons and prove apt pupils of Western
ways. They realize that education is
their only way of escape from the sordid
conditions OF Indian village life. It
enables them to come to the cities, to
learn trades, and to get government
Jobs.
Women Squelch Advanced Ideas.
They return to their homes with
Western ideas, even as regards the
emancipation of women. Then the
wives and mothers assert their authority
again and q great deal of the advanced
ideas are squelched for good Because
OF this, mission societies are making
special efforts to lure the girls into the
schools and the government is estab-
fishing many girls high schools.
theoretically, says Father Delaunay,
the woman Is the absolute property of
her husband. She is married to him
As small child and is taken to his
mouse after she reaches puberty. The
actual practice of child marriage, he
says. Is not so. horrible since it very
seldom Is anything but a formality,
and actual marriage does not take
place much earlier than in Western
countries. Many Of the students In
the girls high school maintained by
the order IN Dacca are married, but
ssney are no different than any other
high school girls.
In the harem the woman lives a
very secluded and prosaic life. It is
partly TO escape from this that she
has turned to religion as her one out
let and recreation. The march of
centuries, according to the two mis-
sionaries, has seen her intrench her
self as high priestess of the religious
philosophy which has submerged her
status. She will see to it that no re-
ngion except that which meets her
approval will be tolerated. Man, SUI
preme In every other respect, Is not
supreme IN the home and the early
education of the children. The woman
Is fanattcal about her self Annexation.
she has accepted as the seal Of her
power the belief that her status In any
Iueure life depends upon her service
% her husband In this world.
h1issionary's Work Difficult.
The mother, says Father Delaney. is
supreme not only over the wives of
her sons who must live with her, but
over the sons themselves because of
the influence she has welded over
them in infancy. The two mission
aries tell Of. meeting q Hindoo friend
who has just lost his weeks paw at the
race track and was afraid to 20 home.
Wnen various excuses which he might
make to his wife were suggested to
MIN ne said that the wife didn't mat
Ter, out that he would have q terrible
time explaining to his mother.
The Indian women, according to Mr..
elaunay. are far from unhappy. Visi-
tors 70 native homes are not admitted
20 the womens quarters, but often hear
them laughing merrily among them
selves. They usually are comfortable
and well treated, the chief dificuIty
coming not from the husband. but from
the mother -in.law.
The religious fanaticism of the WON.
en-. ne said, renders the work of the
missionary especially dificulC. Thev
are glad to have their sons obtain al,
the education possible, but If one
changes his religion he Is ostracized
from the family circle. Consequently
when youths leave the schools they are
likely to slip back.
Both men are convinced that the fu-
ture Of India depends on more and
more education. The groundwork of
Mgner education Tor women Is being
established by the desire of the weather.
families, especially those who have
taken up Western customs, to have cul-
tureu wives for their sons With the
ace broken, they expect O constant in
crease In schools for women. attended
by breakdown In the ancient preiu-
dices.
MUCH OF the terrible condition which
mas been pictured among Indian vor1-
en-, especially the child wives. said
Father Delaney, is based upon gem
ordinations from isolated cases such as
could be found among the lower ele-
ment IN any city. This is true especially
OF hospital reports, for no Hindoo won-
"A OF any standing ever would go to a
hospital.
Snakes Are Respected.
The missionary In India, said Father
Delaney, constantly Is running into
curious adventures, especially with
cobras, the killing Of which arouses
protests from the natives, who regard
vlem with particular respect. They
Tear them, but they fear that IL one
u killed another cobra will take
vengeance.
An exhibit of articles from the Indian
missions Is being shown at the. mission
house and the Catholic University. The
Holy Cross Order established the first
foreign mission house in the District
and scores Of priests, brothers and nuns
have gone from here to carry on the
work
SPECIAL NOTICES.