Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 June 1882 — Discouraging to Widows. [ARTICLE]

Discouraging to Widows.

There is great excitement among the Bhotiias, a rich and important Hindoo se'-tion of Western India, owing to the occurrence of the first widow marriage in their caste. The lady is 27 years old, and has been a widow since the age of 10. She and her husband,'who are both Bhotins, became acquainted in the native State of Cuich, the headanarters of thoir caste, and, knowing their marriage to be impossible there? they eloped to Bombay, where the Bhotias are also very strong, .and where the ceremony was celebrated under the auspices of the Widows’ Remarriage Association. A small band of native reformers thoroughly approve the marriage, but a feeling of strong indignation has arisen among a great majority ,of the caste. The only Bhotia who attended the marriage has been excommunicated, and the lady’s relatives are attempting to have the bride and the bridegroom arrested a charge of stealing jewels and sent to Cutoh, where they propose dealing with them for an offense against the caste rules. Doubtless the Bombay Government will refuse to give them up.