POLITICAL SWING-OVER

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 141, 18 June 1927, Page 9

POLITICAL SWING-OVER

MISSIONARY'S IMPRESSIONS

The Rev, J. L. Griay, a, missionary of the New Zealand Presbyterian Church, who for the last five v_ears has been I working in >the Punjab, Northern India, and is just now on furlough in the ■Dominion, : visiting various centres in the interests of this work ana in connection with the missionary campaigif that is being conducted throughout the country, spoke very interestingly to a "Post" representative this' morning on the work of the Presbyterian Church of Now Zealand 111 -India and on the present political position in this tho greatest of Britain's aependencies. Of particular interest is what he had to say with regard to the political swing-over at tho last elections, the adoption of more constitutional methods by the Hindu Nationalist movement, and tho constant tension between the two great religious sections of the population, the Hindus and the Moslems. MISSION WORK. _ "Medical, educational,. 1 and evangel* istic work is being carried out by th« Now Zealand Presbyterian. Church in several- centres amongst the threequarters of a million peoplo in the Punjab," stated Mr. Gray. "Most of these people ore agriculturists. Thy field the Presbyterian Church has chosen is a thoußand\miles north of Bombay, and consequently tbero'arc great extremes of heat in summer, when the thermometer usually registers 115 degrees in the shade. Tho work of tho mission has grown greatly in the last few yoars, and is now at a most interesting stage, mainly owing to tho re. markablo movement towards Christianity on tho part of the great outcastpopulation of the district. This com. munity movement of these ■ outcast peoples is affecting many missionary societies in India, and in the past ten to fifteen yoars probably a million, of them have joined tho Christian Church. This outcast section numbers 50 million personß in India, who by Hindu Jaw aro outside the pnlo of custo.

"Both within Hinduism nnd Mohammedanism thero havo been several- re- ' form movements aiming at the uplift of i theso people, but thoy soem to bo turning more and more towards Christianity, an they find in that the truo motive for any permanent botterment. Tho Government lias done a great deal for tho outcasts,, but up to the present tho, iron-shod heel of Hindu social custom has kept thorn in the dust. Many grave i problems—social, economic, and spiritual—have to bo faced beforo their lot can bo improved. DREADFUL POVERTY. "Ono fact of spocial interest and mi. portance in regard to missionary effort for uplifting these peoplo is tho dreadful poverty in which tboy live, Hinduism compelling them to be non-pro-ductivo and to be the scavengers and the labourers of tho country. Tho Now Zealand Presbyterian Oburch in its mission work there hopes to bo able to do something along industrial lines for theso people, teaching simple vjllago trades to tho younger generation so that they may become of economic value as producers, and no rise from the real slavery in which Hindu society has kept them for over two thousand years. All the best and most progressive of the Indian Nationalists realise that this brand of untouehability is a real blot on the national aspirations of India. But disinterested efforts for the social and spiritual uplift of this submerged sixth of India's population havo so far amongst non-Chris-tians not many enthusiastic followers. WHAT INDIA WANTS. "With regard to the definite desires of; India for Bolf-government, a leading Indian lawyer and patriot recently said in a public, utterance that he could summarise these demands in the following four points:—(l) India wants equality of rights for members of the same Empire; (2) she wants self-gpy. eminent like that of the Dominions; (3) she wants a national militia and a very real part in her own national defence; and (4) equality of treatment for her nationals in the colonies. "The British Government in India and at Home is gradually moving in several of these directions; but the attitude adopted by several of the colonies has greatly complicated things, and made India suspicious of the-good-will of Britain, Many of the.Dominions, as parts of'our Empire, are just and fair, and wo of New Zealand are proud of tho attitude of our Dominion to the Indian members of the British Empire. At the Imperial Conference some years ago it was decided that we should have the right to exclude Hindus from New Zealand on condition that they had tho right to exclude our people from India. If such a fair attitude were to bo found in all parts of the Empire, much of tho present suspicion and ground pf complaint would bo entirely removed. THE SWING-OVER. "The last election results from India show a decided reaction from tho ox> treme Swaraj; or Home-Bule Party— from the policy, of destruction-to moth-

ods of more constitutional government. A new party has developed, known as the. Eesponsivist Party, which, though still more the less critical-of the Government, will take the place of a legitimate Opposition .Party. This swuigover to more constitutional methods is seen both in the Legislative Assembly, whero the Swarajs 1 have lost nine seats, and in the Provincial Councils; and it is a decided step forward on the part of Indian political opinion. The latepolicy of destruction was taking India nowhere, and this constructive policy will find its response in a more generous attxtude on the part of British opinion, me position is to be revised in 1929, and theso election results are a proof to Britain of the trend.of the best of Indian national opinion. INDIA'S OPEN SORE. "To those who know India, there is one matter which causes the gravest concern and raises doubts as to the ntness of the masses of the people for self-government at the present stage, ■this is the division between tho two great sections of the population, the Hindus and the Moslems. There are 70 million Moslems am 280 million Hindus in India, and these communities are ever,at each other's throats, ihis antagonism is, of course, historical; and it would seem as if no com-n-on basis of agreement can be found, ierriblo outbreaks of violence occur at every sacred festival; and mvc v of the time of the officials in India is taken up with maintaining a forced peace between these two communities. What will be the end of it all no one can tell; but all lovers of India are agreed that not until this open sore is healed will India rise to that place of greatness which is her right.