Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
AMERICAN MYTHS
OF INDIA EXPLODED
Woman Chieftain Hopes to
Educate u. S. About
Her Nation.

One of the most outstanding figures
in India, Madam Sarojini Naidu, poet
by destiny and politician by necessity
visited Washington yesterday for brief
rest before starting on a lecture tour
which, she hopes, will educate Ameri-
cans beyond the stage Of regarding her
native Ian as haven for "swamis,
snake charmers and dancing girls"
Madam Naidu, who succeeded in 1925
to the highest public Office open to a
native Indian, the presidency of the
Indian National Congress, will be at
the Maytiower Hotel until tomorrow
morning, when she leaves for the
Pacific Coast to begin her lecture tour.
She plans TO return to Washington to
speak in February.
Madam Naidu, in discussing India,
speaks lightly of the popular miscon-
ception" of India and Indian ideals, but
one gains the impression that she
resents unintelligent foreign criticism
and that she Is inbued with an intense
love of her 350,000,000 fellow country
men.
Amused by Attention.
Her Indian features and native cos
tune have attracted attention during
the two months she has been in this
country, which Madam Naidu finds
most amusing"
In the minds Of most Americans, $
said Madam Naidu, India is a romantic
myth-a land where mystics rule and
women go barefoot and eat with their
fingers. OF the real India, they are
ignorant.
1T is true that our women go with
out shoes and eat with their fingers.
but does this mean they are less Gull
tured, less intelligent or less civilized
than their foreign sisters? Indian
women are on the threshold of a new
and more advanced era than even your
women know. Our women are begin
ming to lead the men in public life.
Child Marriages Disappearing.
"The evils of child marriage are fast
disappearing. That which was bad in
the caste system has gone, although
the system itself never will disappear
1t is invaluable in India, filling real
need in our social organization.
THE teachings of Gandhi, who in
PRODUCED 'Satyagraha,' as passive re-
o4StdIlCEs IIdfE SllOWh us tI1cEC ID
something bigger in life than personal
achievement. The people of India
strive for this bigger thing: they seek
TO cleanse themselves of that which is
bad by doing that which Is good. Your
own prominent business men who sud-
denly surrender their careers for social
work also have realized that ultimate
happiness does not lie in personal
GAIN"
Madam Naidu believes the Kellogg
peace pact is noble gesture in the
right direction" She warns, however,
that it carries many economic implica-
lions of which few people are aware.
Thinks England Unstable.
She feels that the whole world is
changing economically and that politi-
cal realignments will follow the eco
nomic shifts. She believes that Eng
land is in an unstable position.
India, she says, is dissatisfied with
her position in the empire, but is PIN
ming great hopes on parliamentary APP
proval of the new constitution, which
embodies all of the freedom enjoyed in
Canada and the Irish Free State.
Although for two years she was gen.
orally recognized as Gandhi'S successor
when the latter's health gave way,
Madam Naidu's heart is with poetry.
The latest collection of her verse, 1.-THE
Sceptered Flute" has just been pub
IiShed.
Madam Naidu was educated in India
and at Kings College and Cambridge
After her Lecture tour, she plans to re-
turn to India.