ABSTRACT
Partly because of the colonial governments' concentration on providing social services for the Europeans and Africans, the Asians were constrained to establish religious, social, medical, library, and educational facilities. The means was philanthropy; individuals contributed a sizeable portion of their earnings to the common welfare. Since the government, unlike its practices with educational institutions, provided no financial aid, the Asians had to rely entirely on their own resources in erecting communal halls and temples, mosques, and shrines. The Asians' most important charitable organizations were those produced by a combined effort of their communities. Among such organizations were the Social Service Leagues, which, like the communal halls and religious edifices, were established without any contribution from the governments and were maintained with only token grants from the municipal councils. Although the government provided matching funds, the new hospital was clearly a result of Asian initiative and philanthropy. Dispensaries and clinics represent another facet of Asian philanthropy.
