WOMEN’S INDIAN ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 20253, 14 August 1929, Page 13

WOMEN’S INDIAN ASSOCIATION

The' annual report of the Women s Indian Association, Madras, conveys to complacent dwellers in the Occident a thrilling story -of the growth and virility of a band of Oriental women formed at Adyar in 1917 with the purpose of advancing the interests and furthering the progress of women in. India.. From a very small (beginning, tho association now registers 4,000 members, : aspiring,, progressive women, and the All-India character of the organisation enables it to wield a powerful, influence over vital matters concerning women's interests. An analysis, of-the objects shows that they are, like the Star of India, five-pointed, and relate to religious, educational, political, philanthropic, .and social aspects of India life. Public meetings are frequently held, women and men of repute in the world being invited to give lectures. .During the past year, among many names of interest and note, we observe that of the Right Hon. -.Mr S. Sastri, who gave a survey of tho condition of Indian women in South Africa, and urged on the women of India at, home the necessity of coming into lino with their sisters in other parts of tho world by discarding tho social obstacles which hinder them at present. Air W. E. Johnson, of America (“Pussyfoot”), addressed a well-attended meeting on ‘Prohibition as a Practical Policy,’ while Air J. Krishnamurti, the author and poet of world-wide repute, spoke of the social evils which obstruct the freedom and growth and prevented self-expression in the women of India, emphasising tho great need for active work to remove such evils. All branches of the association arc active in their support of legislation to prevent the marriage of girls before -sixteen and of boys before twenty-one years of age, while individual members arc becoming ever braver in opposing the early marriage of girls in their own families and in insisting on tho equal moral standard. The Women’s Homo of Service, run under tho auspices of the W.1.A., accommodates from forty to fifty destitute and lonely girls, who while there are taught to earn their own livelihood. Of special interest is the reference to tho Montessori School, opened in February of the current year, under the direction of Aliss Barrie, M.A. The school is beautifully equipped, and lias all the apparatus necessary lor this new type of education'. Tho children are charged fees, and the touchers are adequately paid, so that it is. hoped to maintain a proper standard. 1 Stri Dharnia ’ is the official organ of the W.1.A., edited by Shrimati Alalati Pntwardhan, B.A. At is attractively got ii]) and beautifully illustrated, month by month, with interesting articles, notes, and comments on current topics.