WOMAN SUFFRAGE VICTORY IN INDIA.

White Ribbon, Volume 27, Issue 313, 18 July 1921, Page 3

WOMAN SUFFRAGE VICTORY IN INDIA.

The following extracts from a letter from Mrs Jinurajadasa, published in the May number of "Jus Suffra&li,” will be of interest to all thase who sympathise with the movement for luc enfranchisement of the women of India. The resolution giving the franchise to the Madras women was passed by the Madras Legislative Council on Friday, April Ist, notification of the resolution having been given by the mover early in February. Mrs Jinarajadasa writes jis follows. — "From this time a great educational campaign has begun in Madras, led by the Womens Indian Association. W r c got up public meetings in the different centres of Madras, which were attended by large numbers of women. The meetings in the Georgetown District were specially enthusiastic, the women there not considering the cote sufficient, but wanting to be allowed to stand for the Legislative Councils. One woman even suggested that if the resolution did not get through the Council, the women of Madras should immediately start militant methods! In the provincial districts also several meetings w'erc held and resolutions passed asking that the sex disqualification should be removed. A letter was sent by the Women’s Indian Association to all the Council members asking them to support the resolution, and various deputations were arranged to meet the members of the Cabinet. It was interesting to notice the difference in the reception of our deputations here from the way the suffrage deputations were received in England. There hordes of police came out to prevent the women approaching the Minister, and the women were arrested and thrown into prison. Here, in India, everything was done to make it easy for the members of the deputation; the Ministers receiving us with the utmost courtesy and friendliness, listening with grave attention to aIJ the arguments put forth, and seriously \|jd earnestly ask ing questions to gain the women’s point of view. After the business of the deputation, refreshments were offered to the members! . . . On th day of the debate a large number of ■women assembled in the Council Chamber. Two galleries in the best position in the

House were reserved by the I’resident of the Cbuncll for the use of women only. The debate lasted two hours and a-half, and mast excellent speeches were delivered. At the beginning of the discasslon. Sir Lidhel Davidson announced on behalf of the Government that the Government as such would remain neutral, members being free to vote as they pieased. though he himself was against the vote being driven to women, considering it premature. ... 1 he large majority of the Hindu members spoke for the resolution. The only serious opposition came from the Mohammedans. who all voted against the resolution. though they had no arguments against it. except that they wanted the women left alone. Their leader even wished that an amendment should be introduced especially to exclude Mohammedan women, which, fortunately, was not even brought up. Great excitement prevailed in the House at the time of division, which resulted in 47 voting for the resolution. 13 against, and 10 remaining neutral. It is a splendid victory for Madras women, and we are very proud of ourselves here to l>o the first Presidency to grant the suffrage to women. We always felt convinced that the Indian Legislative Councils would, on being asked, without much opposition accord suffrage to women. There is very little opposition here in India to women obtaining anything if they really want it. Of course, there are customs and prejudices to be overcome, and many reforms needed; but if once a woman do. mauds that something shall be done, that thing is done. I do not think that the men of India will oppose any desired progress on the part of women if they once really ask for ?t. We hope that the Hombay Presidency will also give the suffrage to women during the hot weather session at Poona. . . In the Purdah districts of India matters will not he quite so easy, as there the demand on the part of the women is not great, and the leading women are many of them working in the non-co-operation movement. In three Indian States the suffrage has already been 9 given to women. . . . We are now in South India in a better condition than you arc in England, as here we have equality in the franchise with men. and in England you are : till suffering from 'imitations. This lather e-.piodrs one of the old argu-

ments that was once used in England against giving the English women the vote, that “the people of India would not tolerate that women send representatives to the House of Commons which governed India.” The resolution passed by the Madras Council is as follows; “This Council recommends to tin* Government that the sex disqualification prescribed in sub-clause (l>) of clause (1) in Rule 7 of the Madras Electoral Rules for registration on the electoral roll Ik* removed in respect of women, and the qualifications which entitle men to vote be made applicable to women.”