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Some Mistakes Corrected certainly be an evil under a Hindoo system of government of the stiff and intolerant forms of modern religious creeds, but tolerance has ever been of the essence of the Hindu system, and in British India the claws of caste have been cut by a strong and impartial government, and the social pressure of a population, made up of various elements which would not submit to oppression. I remark that in Europe classes lie in strata horizontally, and that in India the separation is by vertical fissures. I have known men of good caste and social position as gentlemen, who are not ashamed to have in their families near relations in the grade of menial or cock. Now, such a state of affairs would be impossible in Europe, and marks the enormous divergence of social customs."
The next mistake that I must refer to, concerns the women of my country. This mistake is many-sided and time will not permit me to consider it in detail. In a general way it may be stated, thus :
The women of India, from time immemorial, have been and are, the abject slaves of their husbands, without rights, without privileges, without education, without authority, and even (as I have heard said) without souls, except perhaps as they may blindly serve the whims, the behests and the-lusts of their masters. To all this statement and to every particular definition that may be given to it, I am proud and honored to interpose a down – right denial. I do not mean by this that woman's place and work in India are the same as I am led to believe as are found in this country: whether lower or higher or equal, in a genuine sense, I will not attempt to decide. In the Vedic times, as may be learned from the numerous hymns, many of them composed by women, a pleasing picture pf woman's estate may be seen in that early age the father of the family was the priest, and his home was the temple. The sacred flame was kindled in every house and the hymns were chanted with
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