PANDITA RAMABAI MISSION

Waikato Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 5620, 28 May 1914, Page 2

PANDITA RAMABAI MISSION

As has been announced in these columns, there will be a stall at the Waikato Winter Show next week, the proceeds of which are to be entirely devoted to the Pandita Ramabai Mission. This mission seeks to improve the condition of the child widows of India, and was founded by a Hindu lady, after whom it is named. Pandita's father brought her up in disregard of the ancient customs of her people, and she was not married until she was 22 years of age, being left a widow a year later. She recognised that the bad conditions amongst the natives of India at the time were almost entirely due to their religion, and because the people were idolators, and the religion of India one of the worst, perhaps, in the world. -Little girls had to be married before they were thirteen years of age, and sometimes they were married at the early ages of six and seven years. That was the reason of the large number of child widows in India today, and it was Pandita Ramabai who strove to better their condition. She left India and went to England, where she became a Christian. She learnt the tongue and customs of the people, and there she wrote her first book, the sale of which brought her in her first money. She was then asked to go to India and form a school at Poona, where she commenced with 15 pupils. Tho school grew rapidly, and at present there are over 2000 pupils. Twenty-six years ago she commenced her first school, and ever since she has been working for her God and her religion.

H It is to assist in the furtherance of this laudable work that the stall is being run at the Winter Show, and it will be under the charge of Mrs G. McKenzie, of Queenstown, general secretary in New Zealand for the mjgsion. Mrs McKenzie will arrive in Hamilton by tomorrow's express, and will be pleased to meet all friends and sympathisers in the work, of which she has personal knowledge, having visited India a few years ago.