The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-03-25
Page Seven

If she thinks you are feeling
strange and shy, she will make you
feel at home at once although you
can't understand "a word she says and
she can't understand you.
In her gr-uff way she comforts and
councils the new brides when they are
having trouble getting adjusted to all
the in-laws in their husbands home
where they have recently come to
| live. She encourages them to be low
ing and cooperative. But she takes
advantage of her position as the old
est woman In the village to urge the
young women to stand up for their
rights when it comes to ideas that
may bring progress.
She is glad that they refuse to
cover their faces when they go out.
She herself makes gesture toward
the tradition that modest women
don't expose their faces to the gaze
of men, by pulling her saree down
over one eye. But she looks out sharp
liz and boldly with the other so as
not to miss thing that goes on in
this interesting, fast-changing world.
I think might have a little diff
Guilty in finding an opportunity to
introduce you to Mrs. Kallappa, SO
I'll just tell you about her. She is a
typical orthodox Hindu woman. She
has raised ia fine family of sons and
daughters, all of whom are we'll
educated.
The daughters are trying to COM
bine just the right amount of tradi-
ton and modern ideas to fit into
a slowly metamorphosing orthodox
life. Her sons are among the group
of young coffee farmers who vie with
each other to see who can adopt the
most progressive and scientific farm
ing methods.
If you were a guest in Mrs. Kallap-
pas home for few days, she would
see that your every need was tended
to. but you would probably see her
only twice during your stay. She
might come out to be introduced to
you about the second day, and to
say goodbye to you when you leave.
The rest of the time she will remain
in the back part of the house where
you are never invited to go.
Her husband and sons are very
proud of her. Of course her daughters
are, too, but they compare their moth
er to you and decide she is missing
something in life that they don't
want to miss.
Mrs. Lakshmi has been demanding
that l introduce her to you and 1
can't put her off any longer.
She knows everybody who is any
body and lot who aren't. If there's
any progressive action being taken by
5he women of Madras, you may be
sure she is in the middle of it. AS
Honorary Assistant Secretary of the
Madras Farmers Forum she attends
Ill the meetings; and although she
s the only woman present, she sees
% it that the views of the women are
veil aired.
Her husband doesn't like meetings
md only comes for her when the
Meeting is over, or sends the driver
With the car.
At the time of her marriage she
'rought to her husband a fabulous
lowry including several hundred
ores of land which she feels should
e compensation enough for the fact
hat she is seldom at home.
+
I wish I had time to introduce you
0 Mrs. Deshpand, a sweet little moth
r who was a social welfare worker
uring the dreadful days following
artition. And to Mrs Wahi. mother
( refuge family displaced at that
ime, who is trying to make decent
ONE for her family of eight in two
OHIO rooms with shack kitchen.
And to- Giribali, typical working
irl doing secretarial work. And to
Irs. Mukherjee, who works shoulder
, shoulder with her husband on their
9-acre farm, in boys and girls club
ork, on the adult education pro-
ram they have set up, and in raising
leir own seven children and the
ght fatherless children of her hus-
and's brother who was killed in an