Wednesday, 8 December

A stamp commemorating 100 years The beginning of the 600-bed St Stephens Hospital in Delhi is the story of compassion of a 16-year-old girl who came all the way from England in 1858 determined to do her bit to improve the lot of women in all possible ways by providing education and health care , sadly lacking in those days.

Her brother, Daniel Sandys, who was preparing to become a priest, were among those killed in the 1857 uprising. The infant Church in Delhi received its baptism in blood. Every European found in the city was put to death without quarter, and the faithful chaplain among them went to his reward. The Indian Christians were given the chance of life if they would deny their new-found faith. Many were killed, and a few, escaped out of the city. One Chimman Lal was murdered outside his dispensary "because he denied not that he was a Christian." After some weeks of terrible suspense the message was received in England:"The Delhi Mission has been completely swept away."

Priscilla Winters vowed to avenge her brother's death by coming to India and sharing her love of God. In 1858 she arrived in Calcutta where her parents were missionaries. She visited the homes of ordinary women and particularly the poor and learnt first hand the difficult conditions in which they lived. When women fell ill or were in labour, they were treated by other ignorant women and often with fatal results. Medical facilities were poor and there were no women doctorsas they would not expose their bodies to make doctors, the only alternative was to suffer in silence.

Shifted to Delhi:
Mrs Winters shifted to Delhi after her marriage when she was 21 and set herself the task of liberating women from their ignorance, fear and illness, instead of throwing up her hands in despair over the oppressive systems and customs of the time. She had no experience of medicine or nursing but her concern and yearning to be of help gave her the knowledge and understanding to move in the right direction. She started schools, trained Anglo-Indian women in nursing and hygiene and enlisted volunteers to visit households and extend all help to the womenfolk.

The medical work began in 1864 when she started visiting the bathing ghats on the Yamuna and distributed medicines to ailing women whom she befriended. When she went to England along with her husband in 1866, she collected subscriptions to recruit a lady medical worker to set up a dispensary for women and to train native women as workers.

She was determined and indefatigueable in her work. 'I have to study the language, teach in schools and zenanas (Women's section in a home), nurse the sick and write' begging letters, she told a friend..