The following presentation was made earlier, and a similar one can be presented:
GRIMSBY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Talk By GRIMSBY AUTHOR
Waheed Rabbani
Canadian Woman Doctors in India During the British Raj
At
25 Adelaide Street, Grimsby, Ontario
Wednesday March 17, 2010
From 7.30 to 9 PM
Talk/Presentation - Synopsis
The talk is an introduction to the Canadian women doctors who served in India during the British Raj. Waheed first explores how they got there in the late 19th Century, since it was most uncommon for single women to travel around the world in those days. As it turns out, they had been sponsored by the Canadian Presbyterian Church and worked at their Missions and Hospitals in India. That leads him into presenting a very brief overview of the introduction of Christianity in India and the gradual entry of the French, Dutch, Portuguese, British, American and finally the Canadian Missions. Waheed’s research (for his historical fictional novel, which he will also talk about) showed that there were about 10 Canadian lady doctors—mostly from Ontario and Quebec—who served in India during that period. A brief biographical sketch of one lady, Doctor Margaret Mackellar, of Port Elgin, Ontario, will be presented. In addition, the talk will include some information on a few Niagara Region ladies who, while not doctors, had also travelled to India as medical assistants.