Hindu and Moslem women alike had very little freedom and were unable to leave the zenana without their husband’s permission. If they were allowed to go out, they would be accompanied by a male relative and the Moslem women would be covered by the burkah, a garment that would hide them from the eyes of other men. Small eye-holes in the burkah would allow them to see a little. Most of their time would be taken up looking after their children in the zenana who would be, as they were, unschooled.[
Mrs Hannah Marshman who, during the time with her husband at Serampore, had made contact with a number of women and had set up a school for girls, the first in India. Her example inspired two other missionary wives who became involved in this work in Kolkata (then Calcutta).
Mrs Marianne Lewis and her husband C B Lewis, the Superintendent of the Baptist Mission Press, were on furlough in 1866 in England. It was during this time that Marianne wrote a pamphlet, ‘A plea for zenanas’. Her appeal led to the formation in the following year of the Ladies’ Association for the Support of Zenana Work and Bible Women in India in Connection with the Baptist Mission Society, later to be known as the Baptist Zenana Mission (BZM).
This vision was shared by Mrs Elizabeth Sale, wife of Rev John Sale, who had made a lasting impression when she was granted admission to a zenana in Jessore in 1854, six years after their arrival in India. She taught the women to sew as well as other crafts including childcare and elementary healthcare. In 1858 the Sales moved to Calcutta where John Sale became the pastor of the Lal Bazar Church, begun by William Carey as an outreach from Serampore in 1809. It is now known as the Carey Baptist Church and celebrated its bicentenary on 1 January 2009. Mrs Sale began visiting a few ladies in the Bowbazar/ Lal Bazar area near the church. Her visits were very welcome.
After Mrs Lewis’s ‘Plea for zenanas’, a BZM committee was formed in England on the 22 May 1867. On her return from furlough that same year, Mrs Lewis started work with an Anglo-Indian helper, Mrs Sanders, who was fluent in Bengali. Mrs Sanders visited the town of Baraset once a month and the first woman convert from that town was baptised in the tank at Entally in 1869. Three houses in Calcutta were opened for instruction and two women teachers were employed. Mrs Lewis opened a normal school for widows, which started with four pupils. In 1869 three little schools for Hindu girls were started. A close friendship had developed between the two wives Marianne and Elizabeth; thus together they did a great work among the women folk of Calcutta. The work in other places was also growing.
Supported by the Home BZM Committee and local Women’s Groups, the work flourished. During the first year Lady Peto was appointed President and Mrs A Angus Croll as secretary. Mrs J Angus held the position of Foreign Secretary with Lady Lush as Treasurer. The income for the first year was £310.
Enthusiasm at home was increased by the institution of an annual breakfast in 1871, the formation of Baptist zenana auxiliaries in Edinburgh 1875 and Glasgow in 1877. A number of women prepared themselves for service in India with BZM.
Local women’s groups and the Home Committee in England raised money for the work. And so it was that in 1880 a plot of land was bought, the site adjacent to the Circular Baptist Church, which was opened in 1821, for the building of the Zenana Mission House. In 1881 the ladies moved into 44 Lower Circular Road. It proved to be a very comfortable home for the lady missionaries, with south-facing open verandas. Each school day the teachers were taken to Entally School for Girls and other places in the horse carriage. The horse and the carriage were stabled in the building that was pulled down in order to have our new Missions Centre. In those days water had to be carried into the house to fill the water drums in the bathrooms. It wasn’t until 1957 that we rejoiced in the news that we were to have piped water and a pump to fill the tanks that would be on the roof, the same applied to 48 Ripon Street.
In 1910 the James Memorial Bible Institute was opened at 45 Lower Circular Road where the Bible Women received training for two years, which included practical work, first aid and home nursing. The Superintendent, Miss Ewing, died in 1925 and the Institute was discontinued.
The land between Elliot Road and Ripon Street was BMS territory. On the Elliot Road corner stood the Baptist Mission Press with four flats for the mission staff. Next to it stands the Church with its manse to the rear. ‘44’ is next in line with 45 no longer a mission property but a small hospital for local women and children. On Ripon Street side is the Colinga Baptist Chapel near the corner of A J C Bose Road (also known as Lower Circular Road) and further along Ripon Street is number 48, which at present houses the Emmanuel Ministries offices. It was the home of successive BMS Field Secretaries and guest accommodation until about the 1970s.
‘44’ became the Indian Office for BMS, with living quarters for the residing missionary family together with guest accommodation. It was a place of blessing, blessed by those who came to stay. The chats at meal times around a family table were good times.
‘44’ continues as a place of great blessing, to the Teams, the volunteers and the guests from other places. A place of outreach and mission.
It was my joy to be there twice in 2009. In January my daughter Fiona and I had the great delight of being delegates at the Jubilee Celebrations of the Asian Baptist Women’s Union Conference. The first one was held in Calcutta in 1958 and I was one of the BMS hostesses. About 50 women from a few Asian countries came for the inauguration of the ABWU. At the Jubilee, held at Science City on the outskirts of Kolkata almost 2,000 ladies came for a very inspiring time.
The second visit was in October where I joined three BMS lady volunteers Amanda Hughes, Elisabeth Linfield and Janet Witting and the Action Team for various activities. The Ministers’ Team came in November and I was glad that my Bengali was up to it to be their interpreter!
There have been many blessings in the years that I have known and have visited ‘44’
Christ is the head of the house and he will continue to bless this house in all its ministries.