INDIAN REFORM

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 56, 8 March 1919, Page 10

INDIAN REFORM

PROTEST BY NON-BRAHMINS,

Regarding the subject of reform in India, the committees appointed for instituting investigations hope to be able to conclude their work in February. Meanwhile the South Indian Non-Brahmin Confederation has declared its intention to refuse to co-operate unless nonBrahmin representatives are permitted upon each committee.

The decision was come to at an extraordinary session, held at Madras, at which a resolution was passed recording unswerving loyalty to the British Crown, and rejoicing in Allied successes; emphasising also that any reforms without communal electorates will arrest progress, injure the interests of a large population, and undermine British rule; and declining an opinion upon the reforms till communal electorates . are . guaranteed; em-, piratically protesting against the constitution of the Franchise Committee, consisting of Brahmin Congressmen inimical to non-Brahmin aspirations, opponents of communal electorates; expressing indignation and dismay at the indifference toward the numerous influential protests against the deliberate inclusion in the Franchise Committee of. men excepted ; supporting the Viceroy's and Secretary of State's opposition to non-Brahmin communal electorates, and excluding non.Brahmin leaders.

.The nomination of Mr. Sastri, the resolution declared, is an-open encouragement to an agitation whose ultimate object is the re-establishment of the political Brahmin supremacy so detrimental to the continuance of the British imperial connection and the advancement of the nonBrahmin communities, whose interests are identical with the maintenance of the British character of the administration. "We solemnly resolve that we decline to appear before, or co-operate with, the reforms committees unless non-Brahmiri representatives are appointed on each committee; and record the deep gratitude of the non-Brahmin communities to Dr. Nair^ their accredited representative and leader, for his self-sacrificing labours' on their behalf.".