Sketches of some distinguished Indian women

by Mrs. E. F. Chapman

SKETCHES OF

SOME DISTINGUISHED INDIAN WOMEN.

SKETCHES OF SOME DISTINGUISHED

INDIAN WOMEN.

BY

MRS. E. F. CHAPMAN.

WITH A PREFACE BY

THE MARCHIONESS OF DUFFERIN AND AVA,

LONDON: W. H. ALLEN & CO., LIMITED.

AND AT CALCUTTA.

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1891.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY W. H. ALLEN AND CO., LIMITED,

13, WATERLOO PLACE. S.W

PREFACE.

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In her Introduction, Mrs. Chapman expresses some fear lest people in England should begin to weary of the subject of Indian women, so much having been written of late concerning them and their peculiar trials. But this little book needs no apology; and I, for one, have never read anything more interesting or more likely to be useful to the cause of female education in India than this small collection of biographies.

No one will read these Sketches of some Distinguished Indian Women without a feeling of intense sympathy and admiration for the subject of each one of them; or without pride and pleasure in the fact that so much talent, perseverance, and determination should be found combined with so much gentleness, and with so many truly feminine qualities. One might, perhaps, have feared that women who had had to break through the hard and fast rules of caste and custom would have lost their more lovable characteristics in the struggle; but one rises from the perusal of each one of these biographies with as much affection for the woman as admiration for the student.

But besides the almost dramatic interest of these lives, Mrs. Chapman's little volume is full of information, and her descriptions of the childhood of her different "distinguished women," and of the circumstances of their families and the religions of their parents, are not the least admirable part of her work; while, in her Introduction, she gives a short and most instructive account of questions affecting the welfare of Indian women, and of the various efforts made to improve their condition.

I am sure this little book will be read with interest by everyone who takes it up; while to all those who have thought of Indian women, or who have worked for their welfare in any way, it will come as a message of hope and encouragement, and, as such, will give them unmitigated pleasure.

HARRIOT DUFFERIN AND AVA.

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CONTENTS.

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1. Chapters.

   Page.

2. I.

   Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   1

3. II.

   The Pundita Ramabai Sarasvati ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   26

4. III.

   Dr. Anandibai Joshee ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   48

5. IV.

   The Maharani of Kuch Behar ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   71

6. V.

   Toru Dutt ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   91

7. VI.

   Cornelia Sorabji ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

   113