HEARING THE WOMEN'S VOICES

In regards to the research I would have to say that a primary theme underscoring the whole experience was "Where are the women's voices?" It began on one of the first days in Ranchi when I was shown a very treasured book of the 50th anniversary of the Gossner Mission in what was then called Chotanagpur (today Jharkhand). I was glad to find this photo of the missionaries in 1871, soon after Doris and Ferdinand were married in Christ Church in Ranchi. They are on the far right of the picture. Doris brother, who had not yet married is the 4th from the left man standing. And then 4th man to the right of him is Alfred Nottrott, who also may still have been single. All these men are part of the story that i will be telling. Note that all the men are named in the picutre, but not their wives. There were a few pictures of women clearly doing some of the mission work, but with little discription.
This discovery pointed to me early that I would be hard pressed in India to find more information about the story of the missionary women. I am hoping that I will have better luck in Germany. It also is a matter that much is in old German and I am limited in my comprehension of what is written.
I would also discover that the story of the adivasi people, both men and women, also are hard to find. Here the matter is primarily due to an oral tradition. Within families, I am told the stories of their family and clan are passed on. But with a generation being raised in the age of mass media those stories, are at risk of being loss.
Despite the pull and tug of modernization I was grateful to see how dance, drum, and song continued to be reinforced in the churches. [1/2 of Adivasi in the region are Christians].and the schools. Even while we were in Ranchi, the central government passed a law that permitted students to take exams in their native tongues In rural areas the tribal languages are still spoken. But many are having to learn the tongue of their ancestors in college. Still there is a push now to make sure songs and dances are known and led by the young people