Kohila: The Shaping of an Indian Nurse

Amy Carmichael was born at Millisle, in County Down, Northern Ireland, on December 16, 1867. In 1895 opportunity to go to India presented itself. This she eagerly accepted, and never again returned to Britain. After a period of language study she began touring the villages of the Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu with a group of Indian Christian women. She and her companions made a big impact on the countryside with their teaching and experience. Then in 1901, a seven-year-old child, who had run away from a Hindu temple, was brought to Amy. This incident resulted in the discovery by patient enquiry and research, of the Devadasi system by which baby girls could be dedicated to Hindu temples to become "servants of gods." These Devadasis inevitably had to serve as cult prostitutes . Amy was convinced that God had brought these facts to light in order that she should rescue and make a home for children who for this, or any other reason, were in dangers of immoral exploitation.