AN INTERVIEW WITH THE BEGUM OF BHOPAL.

White Ribbon, Volume 31, Issue 368, 18 February 1926, Page 11

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE BEGUM OF BHOPAL.

My Dear Comrades, — 1 am writing in the gloom of an English December day, after a glimpse of the brilliant East. Yesterday Lady L'lwyd accompanied me on a visit to th * Begum of Bhopal at 29 Portman Square, London. After waiting for a few minutes in a sjiucious drawing room, with walls covered with rich gold satin brocade, and several tables with beautiful lilies in tall silver vases, we were conducted upstairs. The Begum received Us in her bedroom. There we found her seated on a sofa, with her feet tacked under her, in a characterisHe Oriental pose. She received as with gracious dignity, giving us the salaam before warmly slinking hands. We felt great pleasure in presenting to her the message *.ve bore from our National Association, conveying our warmest congratulations on her having made Bhopal a Prohibition State, uni on her bravery as the one woman ruler in India who had enforced Prohibition. I also added that members of the World’s W.C.T.U. throughout the world r joiced in her achievement. Her Highness appeared to be gratified and replied tlxit she was very glad to receive thus message from the N.B. W.T.A., and desired us to convey her thanks for it. She repeated this again with much earnestness tiefore we left. In response to an enquiry as to whether Prohibition had improved life in Bhopal, she replied: “Yes. it has made homes happier. It has stopped wife-beating. Before Prohibition, so many men, in the

lower classes particularly, got drunk in the evening and beat their wives, so that numbers of women were pitiful to behold in the morning. This is now all changed. Wifi* beating has quite stopped. 1 am glad.” A WOMAN WHO HOLES. In reply to a question about law enforcement, Her Highness saiu with emphasis, “My law is enforced, and my people are obedient; and we have not any bootlegging.” 1 remarked that I had found in India that the Hindu religion did not enforce U etotalism ns the Mohamm<»dan religion does, and the Begum said, “No, it does not, but my Hindu people are most obedient and they have welcomed Prohibition. The women particularly are glad to have it,

and they love me all the more.” She went on to explain that the teaching of her prophet Mohammed was the chief cause of her enforcing Prohibition. Wh< n we asked what she thought of tin* United States law, she smiled and said, “Oh, it is all so good!” The Begum emphasised the help h**r youngest son had given her in proclaiming her prohibitory law, and spoke of her- plans for her people. She asked us to help her to find a domestic science teacher who would go to India and instruct her teachers in scientific tempe.* ance, and so enable them to teach effectively in her schools. Yours in service, AGNES E. SLACK.