The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-01-13

companions are Of her own sex
However, 1T is not uncommon for
a college girl or a career woman
to have a few men friends. But
mixed social life such as is found
In this country is practically I'M
known in India.
Lack of adequate opportunity for
young men and women TO enjoy
mutual comradeship explains why
most marriages are still arranged
by parents. However, love mar
riages are preferred by the modern
educated youth. In India people
marry younger than they do in the
West, probably because in the
warm Indian climate physical ma
turity is attained at an earlier age
Child-marriages are prevented by
law. under the Sarda Act passed
in 1929. This Act raised the mini
mum manageable age for boys to
Is years and for girls TO IA years.
After marriage woman is the
very life of her home. She manages
the household. brings up the chill
dren. and plans the various re-
ligious ceremonies at which she
presides along with her husband.
Many Westerners are impressed by
the poise with which the Indian
women conduct themselves in do
mestic life.
The life OF majority OF women
is confined to the home. But as es-
iimated a few. years ago, about 40
per cent of the women are en-
ployed in mental work-as day
laborers or factory workers. Women
are also found in the profession
Of medicine, teaching and law.
Many are taking up dancing, art
and music. Now that India is the
second largest movie-producing
country in the world. this field Of
activity is absorbing a number of
women and girls. There are also a
few Indian women fiers and ath-
letes. particularly tennis players.
II may be pointed out here that
the vast majority Of midas women
indeed the vast majority OF all
her 400 millions--are illiterate.
Only 81, per cent of the women Of
India can read and write. This is
cot surprising in view OF the fact
that there is no free or compulsory
education in India. and that most
OF the people are poor and cannot
afford TO pay for education. The
families that can afford il. usually
invest, more money in the sons
than in the daughters education.
For the son is looked upon as the
potential bread-winner. Perhaps
the women's educational status
would have been even worse had
il not been for the efforts OF phi
lanthropists, few native princes,
ard certain organizations. to open
some free schools for women. and
TO provide scholarships for them in
number OF educational institu-
lions. In the State Of Mysore, for
instance, schools and colleges are
free 10 girls.
In spite OF their small number
the work and the leadership oil
these enlightened women is re-
msrkable They have contributed a
great deal 10 the recent adult liter.
acy movement started in 1897 They
organized classes IN the cities and
in the villages. and taught adult
men and women to read and write
Another field OF activity for the
educated woman is welfare work
among the poor and illiteraie. She
has carried the knowledge OF health
and hygiene TO city slEms and viii
lsse alike. This volunteer work has
been invaluable. since the public
health program in India is utterly
inadequate lndis's infant mortality
rate is 1855 per thousand as COM
pared with liz per thousand IN
the United States About 10000
indian women die annually IN
childbirth. and the average life
span OF an Indian is but twenty
four years.
! The essselsss urge for progress