EASTERN BRIDES

Evening Post, Issue 86, 11 April 1936, Page 9

EASTERN BRIDES

INDIAN FAMILY LIFE

SOME VARIED CUSTOMS

: The news pages sent"by the Otago ■ University Home Science Branch, to ! country districts • contain an interesting account of Indian family life, written by Miss Florence Saker, 8.A., prin- . cipal of the Brahma Girls' High School at Calcutta, who is spending a year at the department. Miss Saker says:—; "As distinct from Western homes, the Indian home consists of parents, child- ■ ren, children's children, widowed aunts, etc. The mother is in entire control of the whole home, and she issues instructions to others.' The father gives her a certain amount .for running expenses, and does not interfere in any way with her as regards management. Should the mother'die, the wife of the eldest son take's her place. The young Indian couple ao not.set up housekeeping on their own account, but they live with the bridegroom's family. BRIDE ENTIRELY UNDER CONTROL. The bride is entirely under the control of her husband's family—her own parents having no claim on her whatso ever. The bride brings in a dowry with her which is arranged between the respective parents and consists of money and jewellery—jewellery in.lndia is wealth—being regarded as an investment and not merely as an adornment. Owing to economic pressure, the dowry system is not so stringently enforced in recent years as formerly. This relaxation of the dowry custom has beea fortunate for India as, at one time, rather than involve their "fathers in debt, which the provision of a dowry would necessitate, it! was by no means uncommon for unmarried girls to commit suicide. So extensive was this before the Great War that the public mind was aroused. The economic pressure and the ability of women to become educated and self-supporting were the two factors which really helped to make instances of this suicide, now comparatively rare.

"Home life in India is very different from that of the West, but there may be points of similarity as regards routine of work. The Indian housewife begins very early—s.3o a.m.—the first thing she does is to have a bath of purification when she changes into working clothes. After this, she swabs the house (the floors only in brick houses and three feet of walls as well if the house is built of,mud). In the country the average Indian home" consists of just one large room with a front verandah—the kitchen and din-ing-room combined form another building which is separate from the house. The kitchen is regarded as very sacred, no one is allowed to enter it except for meals and after purification. CLEANLINESS PART OF GODLINESS. "After swabbing the kitchen-dining-room, then the housewife makes an offering of fruit-and flowers to the shrine that is found in every home— making herself clean before entering the shrine. The religion of the Hindus makes cleanliness a part of godliness, and it is strictly applied to the home and person. After touching anything 'unclean' he bathes his whole body and changes his clothes—this may happen ten times in the day! However, he has no sense of civic cleanliness and makes no attempt, to prevent the streets from being strewn with debris, and leaves the cleaning up to the municipal authorities, and in the country! >

to Nature! Hence the villages are full of- disease. ■ ■ '

"Like other housewives, the Indian housewife prepares no menus beforehand. If there is a garden attached, she goes to the garden and gets a 'brain-wave' there as to what she "will cook', otherwise some male member from the house will do the marketing. Breakfast in India ranges from 9 a.m. for business and professional people and school children, to 1 p.m. for those who.stay, at home. Children are given a glass 'of milk at about 7 a.m., but adults partake of something very; light (like biscuits), if anything at all. .The rooking'is done by the mother, and servants and other; household'members assist. Everything is 'prepared fresh in an Indian home—the keeping ~of stale food (left-overs) being absolutely- forbidden by religious' la\ys. . Ths women 'of'the house .have this' rheal a t about 1 o'clock (but, men have'always been served before this),' after:, which, they either rest till 3 p.m. or^ do needlework.' .;""'• v'V.' ;; ■' !V :.■ v ' .'/' \ ■ LIGHTING THE LAMPS f. CEREMONIAL. "The preparation, for the evening meal commences at about 6 p.m., after

itKe mother-has performed a religious ■ vesper service—a: ceremonial of lighting the lamps. Dinner may range any time from 9-12 p.m. The" average 'Indian-, has two meals, a .day. Men and women eat at separate hours: the womenfolk attending- on • the men. (Aside: I find that in one respect, women all over the world are the same —they simply spoil the men and consequently make 'tin-gods' of them!—and the men, too, enjoy being spoilt!)

"Tea, which is exported from India in- large quantities, was never appreci-. ated', by Indians, but it is getting very popular in. modern, times. Tea-drink-ing; is now indulged in in,most homes, so much so, that when domestics are engaged, the provision for their, preparing morning tea,,at; 7 a.m. is stipulated. (A'lid1 when:they, drink tea", it isn't' .'.water-with-a-bluSh," but" strong, with milk and sugar,:added). Look out, New Zealand, for 'tea. importation • in the future! V . ; . . -"

.-•"This is the routine-followed,in all homes, but the educated Indian woman in the towns, has 'something/ definitely to look forward .to in .the course of the day—she: belongs to clubs, committees, attends conferences, spends . time in the shops, plays bridge, and' indulges in other such "Western vices!"