Amy Carmichael- When An Indian Met a European on the Streets of India...

By Mary Vee

Year: November 8, 1895 

Amy Carmichael: 27 years old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Amy Carmichael and I am so excited to be here in India. I am not yet at my destination. My ship docked only moments ago.

In this short time, though, I learned lessons I wished I never had to hear.

As I stood in the street watching the people move, the different languages spoken, clothing worn, etc, I learned some cultural differences.

Apparently European men are called sahibs and European women are called memsahibs. Whenever an Indian needs to make a decision, he or she is expected to ask a sahib or memsahib.

If a sahib or memsahib walked into an Indian store, the owner was expected to walk away from any Indian customer immediately and rush to the European customer. The owner would shout a greeting and press his hands together as a way of respecting this honorable shopper.

On the streets, which were unbelievably crowded, no Indian person would dare touch or bump a sahib or memsahib even by accident

When sahib or memsahib travelers arrive in a city, those with transportation rush to take these loyal guests to a hotel and offer them food. Indian travelers would never receive this kind attention. As a matter of fact, Indians wouldn't even consider eating at the same restaurants, going to the same clubs, riding a horse or playing European sports with sahibs or memsahibs. This simply was not acceptable.

The more I learned, the more I felt depressed. This land belonged to the Indian people. I prayed that God would help them see they are valuable and important.

So you know, reader, long after I stopped being a missionary, the Indian people received control of their country and didn't have to be treated like this any more. But while I am here, you will read more stories from me that tell of the mean ways the Europeans treated the Indians.

Resources used for this series:
Benge, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 1998. Print.
Davis, Rebecca Henry. With Daring Faith: A Biography of Amy Carmichael. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones UP, 1987. Print.
Dick, Lois Hoadley. Amy Carmichael: Let the Children Come. Chicago: Moody, 1984. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Amy Carmichael: Rescuing the Children. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 2002. Print.
Wellman, Sam. Amy Carmichael: A Life Abandoned to God. Uhrichville, OH: Barbour Pub., 1998. Print.

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