INDIAN CUSTOMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 102, 1 May 1937, Page 18

INDIAN CUSTOMS

DELIGHTFUL TRAVEL TALK

There:was "a large :gathering; of interested women, at the Pioneer Club to 'hear Miss-.Neff tell some of her experiences 'while teaching in parts of-. India. The clubroom, as always,- was: charming with well-ar-ranged'flowers, the decor of the mantelpiece being of pastel pink chrysanthpmurns, while high jars .of bush foliage (were most decorative in the corners,'of the room. Hydrangeas, Iceland poppies, >nd other flowers were well in evidence/ while, floating bowls of zinnias adorned the brown polished tables. Delicious'tea was served from the club kitchen,.-and'after the travel talk -a; number of members had.-the pleasure of meeting Miss Neff personally/ '■,;■ :■■■':" .:;■ ' "■ /■■' ;

.Miss Kane, the club president, spoke of the'pleasure it was to club members to meet such" interesting; visitors from'overseas. ■ She; knew they would have A great treat.in listening to Miss Neff. .She. also welcomed to." the club, a visitor . from England who was a former ' V member,' Mrs. NewlandFletcher,:ahd Mrs. Gordon' Allan, of Australia.-; Welcome .was also extended to/.severar new members who were present for the first time.' '. ■ . ■ Miss Neff began' by showing those present how to put on the;saris.which she had brought with ■ tier,' giving full directions as ; she ;. draped herself in one, and,showing; how simply a very artistic -effect can ; be gained by these charming, garments. She .explained that {invßenares.;they;' wear plain ;;saris 'withVMlylHaiiwrder,^ Bombay ered^h^dsomelyJ-land^toJMa'dras^hey j tiave ■the/gayestiplaidsVv:'Sh6;-spoke; ; regrefrulljr bf;:the-aact-tHat^he 'exquisite^ wea^ng:'oj.^tton ■and\siikjas^dpne'by; the y natives ''is'"' almost';a; lostJ.art /since; the British.-took;' the;! supplies: :■. of cot-: ton and silk;:.ahd; hadi: them^rnachine- ; woven:?ip:English'I''cehtres./ ) , i ;|rhe:;-;;In,? dians used";;to.: weave i"sa:-^vonderfully; that;a sari'of seven-yards of silk or. totton ;would' easily: pass;;through -,a; ring: iThe.; sari when' draped^over^the' headiH^as ;a; \ ebneessiohHovthe purdah, and--wa'sSno't .worn' that way; by. nottr puraah'-fwbmen.';'-''.Th6se',.-cpttQh-/ ' saris wer.e,.waEhed:,every.:day, /and; Miss. Neff.. safdihafc.ln^^^ rifled.^ :ttie4dea\pf:;wearing^;aiiy,:;;kind; of clothing;as::th^;Westem;iWoh7.en:::;ao. their : outer;;;garmetits;;:;for^ sfeaspn.'.. r&'^'Sy^jffi^^B'&:?,{/ ':^-:§;i'

'Rlridito'w^pnieri'iad I;wo;;'tra^edies ;tb contend .with;; that of child;:-niafriage, : :6f purdah.- t Both: were;behig, attacked^ in all directions..but in .the' country districts they- prevailed;;among: great'numbers of people. ;'The ■child;, rfen/were betrothed early, and;after.:the, ceremony'; they,:;'were '.definitely; ; con-; tracted to each other, but, the consummation ; of;: marriage'l .did : not; take 'place till- the .girl ;;wasrat least ; ,thirteen.-. : o.r possibly: fourteen. Now. the efforts had; resulted;in;;most marriages; being delayed;;.until/a xouple; of years : later, arid that-after/about, a. quarter, of a century's striving.' .The.marriage'ceremonies, terribly. ,;trying,;, .lasting, three idays and Mights,':jyhen the ; poor little.; bride'had; to; "sit^up,;loaded;^with: gold bangles,-bracelets,. and : ;anklets, as wall; as other jewellery,.till'she.was; ready; to drftp;- withY/f atigue.; ;;.She;fthen: hatf .to^b, ;tS :rthe ; ' h'puse; of ;Bes|ather4; irv-la'w; ;;arid; reside child; was' due^ toX^e;: bom^ari%j6ri'4h'atj occasion^t was. etiquettetfo|;her : ;to:,gp' to; :rierS"former.:::hqmi|.-■,';,■■>,:<::>:%-v!'.'''-'; ■;';■;;

MisS; /iiiu^tr'^ted "HerSdescription; of the'divtes of;;thejwbmen:{by'-a'story of a. Hindu, woman, and'a;-Mohamme-. dan, both :of whom.: she: knew ~well,--showing-the difficulties and'trials that arose in the history; of. each. A MohammedaTi man . may have three or four wives, but usually does hot take more than one; ■while the Hindu is not limited ras to -number—hence the harems.. The Mohammedan, lady, at the age of thirteen- refused to live with her young,.husband,.and'.successfully rebelled' against the/parents on both sides, finally entering a,'university and. .training,, as ,a. doctor.. Her young husband :took another .wife, but she is not at liberty at, any. .time .to take another husband.. That does riot come, into the Mohammedan ..picture of life' at all! , The ;.lady now, is.the head, of the King George. Medical College at Lucknow," the most, beautiful and best-run of, any that the speaker has seen in any country that she, had visited, - Miss Neff had been superintendent of the. girl students'.hostel, and paid a great tribute .to.the wealthy Indians who had provided such a place. She explained .that, it '.is .hot "correct to talk of, Eurasians nowadays,: ;.the mixed 'race of English and Indians obje.cting to the expression,' a^id. now they are termed: Anglo-Indians., There were about 120 languages in India, ibiit most, children after the age, of : four .or a little later,.went -to schools /and learnt to. speak English ■well.'-.,;:'.,'. ■■-,'■ -.'.:■"'■,.:''..>:•'.- '•. • 'Ay-~ : ,^ ■ --•".■•,

Miss. Neff's two. stories so well illustrated :. her. -points /about ahe,:- Indian "women that those 'present, -felt' they had, been given . a far better understanding than. is usually given by ,a more: .geographical; ; talk. '-.She was heartily thanked ;by Miss Kane, those present .assenting with cordial accla-' mation.' V . " ..• ■■■■. ;:'- ;'■:-■ ■■ ..