UNIVERSITY WOMEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22146, 27 June 1935, Page 3

UNIVERSITY WOMEN

TALK BY MISS JEAN BEGG The Auckland branch of the New ■Zealand Federation of University Women met last evening at the University College. In the absence of the president, Mrs. yf. H. Cocker, Dr. j Warnock presided. Mrs. Cramer, of the "Crated States, and Mrs. Nelson, associated 'with the Y.W.C.A. in England.were overseas guests. Miss Jean Begg gave an address on her work in India, Banna and Ceylon. " Life has changed in India," Miss Begg said, " as the result of education. In London I met 30 or so Indian women who were studying, with their husbands, various academic subjects. The Indian woman in many cases is no longer behind the veil." One of the most interesting people Miss Begg had met in India was the poetress. Mrs. Sarojini Xaidu. She met also R-abindranath Tagore, the poet, philosopher and writer, and she visited his university—the Mecca of educationists visiting India. "I do not think that the students found much in Tagore's university to help them with their degrees." Miss Begg said. " Most of the students had tutors' to help them with their serious studies. Tagores system of education seemed to me' to depend too much on mood to be of any value as far as degrees were concerned. The poet might hare an inspiration while his students were all at classes that he wanted to write a plav. or hear some of his music sung, and they would all leave their studies and sit for hours, perhaps days, singing or dancing, until the necessary atmosphere was supplied. Then thej" could go back to their work." When Tagore visited one of the AllIndia Womerfs Conferences, there was great rejoicing. He received the most wonderful oration, the speaker said, being worshipped among his people. *' 1 feel that it is good to be _<n touch with the women's side of things in India,*' Miss Begg said. " as 1 think j that the women wiil piny a large part j in the future in India. They are j intelligent, and on the whole, better j educated than the men. 1 think we will j he able to look to them as pioneers in j the breaking down of racial prejudices, j