Charlotte Viall Wiser facts for kids
Charlotte Melina Viall Wiser (1892–1981) was an American anthropologist and a Presbyterian missionary. She worked in North India, specifically in Uttar Pradesh. She wrote several important books, including Behind Mud Walls and The Foods of a Hindu Village of North India. For her public service in India, she received the Kaiser-i-Hind Medal.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Charlotte was born in Chicago, Illinois. She went to the University of Chicago and later earned her Master of Science degree in Nutrition from Cornell University in 1933.
In 1916, she was sent to India as a Presbyterian missionary. That same year, she married William H. Wiser, who was also a Presbyterian missionary. They were married in Allahabad and had three sons: Arthur, Alfred, and Edward.
Missionary Work in India
Charlotte and her husband began their missionary work by teaching and doing social work. They taught in Allahabad and worked in Kanpur. Charlotte also taught classes at the Allahabad Agricultural Institute.
Living in Karimpur Village
From 1925 to 1930, the Wisers lived in a village called Karimpur, near Agra. They wanted to truly understand the lives of the village people. They spent most of their time researching ways to improve life in North Indian villages.
They first studied farming to understand the agricultural conditions. Then, they looked closely at the social, economic, and religious lives of the villagers.
Writing and Research
Based on their research and experiences, Charlotte wrote several books. Her book Behind Mud Walls was written with her husband, William Wiser. She also wrote The Foods of a Hindu Village of North India in 1936. This book was her master's thesis for Cornell University. These research books are now used in colleges and universities, especially in Iowa, to teach about village life in North India.
Improving Health and Village Life
Charlotte worked with Indian women and children in rural areas. She helped them improve their health. She even organized "baby shows" to teach about Western hygiene and childcare methods.
From 1945 to 1960, Charlotte and her husband played a big role in the Indian Village Service. This project aimed to improve village life and later became a model for other community development programs in India, like the Block Development Program at Marehra, Etah district.
Charlotte returned to the United States in 1970 and passed away in December 1981.
Books by Charlotte Wiser
- For All of Life a Presbyterian Mission study book (1943)
- Four families of Karimpur (1978)
- Behind Mud Walls (published between 1930 and 1980)
- The Foods of a Hindu Village of North India (1936)
