THE BRAIL110 SOMAJ AND INDIAN REFORM.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:] Sra,—Those of your readers who were interested in the visit of Baboo Keshub Chunder Sen to this country may be glad to hear that since his return to Calcutta be has, in combination with some of the leading members of his Church, organized an "Indian Reform Association," for the promotion of the following objects :- (1) Female improvement ; (2) General and technical education ; (3) Cheap literature for the poor ; (4) Temperance ; (5) Charity. On each of these subjects definite plans of operation are announced, and are entrusted to separate hands to carry out. The President of the Association is Baboo K. C. Sen ; the General Secretary is Baboo G. C. Dhur ; and the managing committee is composed of the vice-presidents, secretaries, and directors of the several sections. All persona interested in the objects of the Society are eligible as members, irrespective of differences of race and creed.
, Operations had already been commenced in November in the
first and third sections. An adult class had been opened for' ladies, to give general education ; and a weekly Bengali news- paper had been started, entitled the Sulau Sumachar, or "Cheap' News," at the low charge of a pice (which is leas than a half- penny). This has proved a complete success, 2,000 copies of the first number having been sold in two days, and a second editior. being required, while the weekly demand is steadily increasing.. The educational section was shortly to open morning and evening schools at the Somaj Mission Office, the former to give daily in- struction in industrial arts and useful handicrafts, the latter to- give instruction three times a week in English and Bengali, arithmetic, geography, lessons on objects, physical science, au& moral teaching.
The promoters of this Society entertain the hope that earnest- minded and philanthropic persons in England, as well as in India, will, as opportunity may offer, give their co-operation and sympathy to this undertaking. Any one who wishes to com- municate with the Society may easily do so by addressing either the president or the secretary, at 13 Mirzapore Street, Calcutta.—
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