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Preface
- Indiana University Press
- Chapter
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Preface The “United States of America” is a name that would be familiar to many; and many must have seen the map of the country while studying geography. But very few in our country can have any knowledge of the true worth of the United States, the activities of its people, its social conditions and political system, and other such things. When I went from England to the United States at the beginning of 1886, I knew nothing at all about the country other than its name. But within a few days of my arrival, I began to grasp, little by little, the greatness of that nation. As a result, I developed a desire to stay there a little longer and acquire a better knowledgeof thesematters. Accordingly, I stayed there from March 1886 to the end of November 1888, traveled about 30,000 miles in the country, and obtained information about several things. The happiness I derived from seeing the marvelous things in the United States will remain incomplete unless I share it, at least in some measure, with my dear countrymen and -women; that is why I am publishing this small volume. Most of it was already written in the United States, the rest has been written since my return [to India]. A few days ago I delivered altogether eight or nine lectures in Bombay and Poona on the topic “The Peoples of the United States.”Some of those who heard them might have thought that I was exaggerating.1 But I assure them that there was no exaggeration in what I said. Anybody who doubts the veracity of the vast¤gures cited in connection with trade and commerce, education, etc., should consult the U.S. census returns for the year 1880.2 There are numerous American men and women in this city of Bombay who are learned and also pro¤cient in Marathi. I request them to correct my mistakes, should there be any inaccuracy in what I have written. There are also those who belong to a particular [ideological] faction, who have faulted me for having described only the good things about the United States and having totally omitted any reference to the bad. To them I can only say that they will ¤nd, at several places in the book, a mention of the very bad things which are obvious to all. But I do concede that I have not found fault with the people of the United States to the extent that many have desired. A pious countryman of ours,3 who visited the country before I did, has made a note of the faults of American society. (I think he found nothing but faults in America; although it is true that he received suf¤cient funds to cover his travels throughout the country, and also back to India!) While traveling in the State of New York, I was asked by a man, “What is the most deplorable thing you have noticed in our country?” I said, “Friend, I have not come to your country to detect your faults, I want only your good qualities. They are what I am looking for, and they are what I ¤nd!” It was very rarely that I noticed any faults among the American people, like stumbling unexpectedly upon a stone or a thorn while walking along a very broad and spacious street; and I could not but mention them. There are good and bad people everywhere, and everyone has good and bad qualities. Needless to say, we will ¤nd good qualities if that is what we are looking for, and the result will be contrary, if our objective is the opposite. The proofs of this book have been read with great care; nevertheless some errors have unavoidably remained. I shall regard this meager effort of mine to have been fruitful if a perusal of this book increases in some measure the diligence and desire to serve our Mother India, which currently prevail in the hearts of my dear countrymen and -women. Ramabai Sharada Sadan, Bombay December 1889 54 The Peoples of the United States ...