THE LAND OF SNOBS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 140, 14 June 1924, Page 16

THE LAND OF SNOBS

INDIA THE PARADISE OF THE

MIDDLE CLASS.

' "I think one of the great stumbling blocks to better social understanding amongst Europeans in India is the spirit of 'snobbishness' so strong in tho present generation,-" 'said Colonel J. D. Crawford, Secretary of tho European. Association, at a -Rotary Club meeting at Calcutta in April, reports the "Englishman." India, continued the colonel, had been called the paradise of the middle class, the land of snobs. It had been suggested to him that the beginning of the social difficulties amongst Europeans in India could be traced to the East India Company, whose jealousy against commercial competition from outside sources gave rise to the bitterness of feeling between the officials of the company and outside merchants, a tradii tion which unfortunately appeared to have continued until the close of the last century as between Government officials and business men. He did not think that Government officials were blameless^ in this respect. Tho apparent importance of their positions bred in them a spirit of intolerance towards other walks of life., .Blame, however, could also bo attached to others, who, being snobs within the truo definition of the word, had toadied to the temporary position of these "tin "hats." Tho situation, to-day Was different, and ho felt that if any snobbishness did exist, it would he eliminated in the course of time. / A large factor in the problem of European social-life, Colonel Crawford said, was the club life, which bred cliquish-, ncsa and accentuated social differences.'. He Mas amongst, those who considered, that the absence of home life in India and the exploitation of clubs <ire to some extent responsible .for tho Europeans' loss of touch with tho people of India.