GIRL GUIDES

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 17 June 1933, Page 2

GIRL GUIDES

NOTES BY “GUIDER” RANGERS IN INDIA Tli o women and girls of India for generations have led sheltered lives; even to-day a great number are in purdah, i-.-c., behind the veil, growing up in a world of their own, excelling in domestic- work and handicrafts of almost every conceivable description, but .education is still reaching out cnly to a very few. R angering is helping these women to come out of their shells :;.ud realise their responsibilities as citizens of a great Umpire. The comparative age of girls in purely Indian companies ranges between IS and 50; naturally the older women, with their orthodox ideas are very difficult to please, but they do come prepared to. get* all they can out of Rangering. Company problems, in an Indian company, apart from the definite test work os acapted to. suit the needs of the courtry, are many. First and all important is the caste prejudice. Companies are open to all and here women of the very highest and the very lowest caste meet together on a friendly footing to work and play, forgetting for the time being their social differences. Indian women, with the exception of •the few who are' more advanced and educated, married or unmarried, are seldom independent. They live at home with their parents and where the joint ■family system still exists, with their grandparents and uncles and aunts all under one roof, being ruled in every ■little detail by the order of the oldest member of the house; is it any wonder then that the average Indian girl has no outlet for her thoughts and ambitions and that- her Ranger company is .the one place where .she is free to speak her mind and exchange ideas? Discussions and debates especially dealing with home affairs, play a large part in company programmes, for these women are aiming at finding a solution to their 'problems for independence without risking the loss of their love for their homes and relatives with whom they have to. live under very trying circumstances.

English is becoming more widespread, but in the large cities there are still companies which have to work in three or even four languages so that each Ranger may really enjoy her weekly meeting. It is trying at times to run on from one language to another, but the girls often help interpret in groups and all works well. Guide literature in the vernaculars is still very'scarce and Ranger Guidons are helping with translations of books and pamphlets, if found satisfactory, are put into print by the Head quar ters’ Publication Committee.

In most Ranger companies except those consisting of ex-liigh school or more educated girls, the majority of its members are married women and often quite a large proportion are young widows. Work has therefore to be arranged to suit them all and yet not interfere with their customs, and Very irregular attendance. Prayer and religion are embedded into the life of the Indian girl from a very early age, and the Rangers are keenly interested in looking up 'the origin of their various religious festivals and holding discussions at such times on .the lives of the gods . concerned; one company is malting a collection of old folk and festival songs and games used on these occasions.

Children of all ages and often babies in arms attend Ranger meetings! They cannot be debarred or else the mothers cannot come, and they are often a real help with the practical side of the Nurse badge work. For this same reason at camps, mothers are often allowed to bring their children provided suitable arrangements are made not to interfere with camp routine, and this plan proves most successful, so keen are the women to come and learn and have some fun.

Camping is working wonders with the removal of caste customs and prejudices. At one such camp last year, almost 20 different castes lived together and ate the same food. Am Indian quartermaster is not to be envied; different castes eat different kinds of food —some eat the same, but prepare it differently—some are total vegetarians —some eat fish. and eggs, but no meat —and so it goes on, but if a Brahmin (.the highest caste) cook is taken to camp, he prepares and serves all meals and everyone is satisfied. The camp programme is the same as for an ordinary camp except that meal-times are sometimes altered to. suit the different communities —Jains may not eat after sunset, the Mahomedan's must have time for prayers before meals, and most of the Hindus require time after each meal to wash the garments worn whilst eating their food.