NOTES FROM INDIA.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 165, 5 July 1888, Page 3

NOTES FROM INDIA.

REFRACTORY STUDENTS—INDIANWOMEN—SEVERE STORMS. Calcutta, May 6. Considerable excitement has been recently caused at Madras by the refractory conduct of the Hindoo students at the Madras Christian College. A report has been circulated that ne of the students intended to embrace Christianity. The majority of students are Bahmins, The students became unruly, and hustled and insulted the professors. The members of one class were then suspended and fined, upon which 440 out of 640 students absented themselves, and these deserters were subsequently joined by 100 more. They held meetings and drew up resolutions, demanding apologies and concessions, and announcing that they would not again attend the college until all their demands had been conceded. The students are said to beencourged in their conduct by the Hindoo community, one merchant having stated that if necessary 60,000 rupees would be subscribed for the purpose of assisting the students to defy the college authorities. The college is a Scotch missionary institution, but special care is taken to avoid all attempts at proselytizing. The explanation of the contumacious conduct of these refractory students is to be found in the constant preaching of the native Press that revolt against all constituted authority is the paramount duty of every patriotic member of the Hindoo community. Sir Lepel Griffin, in his last public speech prior to leaving India, strongly advocated promotion of female education. The present state of things is very disheartening. The barriers of prejudice, prescription, and custom are too strong, and in spite of the devoted labours of many noble-hearted men, wrongs remain etill uuredressed, cruelty, and brutality still triumph, and women still weep in Central India. The progress made is slow, the principal reason being the custom of early marriages. In the best schools of Central India the work done is indifferent, and the girls are only hunted to school when the approach of a British officer is signalled. The principal cause of opposition to tho education of woman is polygamy—an Institution belonging both to the Hindoo creed and the Mahopimedan. With this the British Government cannot interfere ; it can only hope that the day may some when inoreasing enlightenment: will induce tho people to cast off their prejudices as a snake caste off its skin, But the Government may do fifttsii to forward tho regeneration of woman. _ it hesitates to undertake. One section of thelfesal Cede is an insuit on humanity and an outrage on oivillzition, and it does more than any other legislative provision to degrade women. It is imped that English public opinion will oompul" its repeal._ Again, there is the question of the re... marriage of a widow, and especially of a virgin widow. The Government has abolished suttee ; but I know many Hindoo women of good easts and family who would willingly become suttees and cheerfully welcome the releasing fire as a deliverance from ths degradation and suffering imposed by the brutality of men. The position of woman is a true test of ths civilization of a country. Only in backward societies does she remain the drudge, the slave, the plaything of her husband.