MODERN IDEAS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 10, 12 January 1929, Page 18

MODERN IDEAS

ENTERING KASHMIR

" In , J,"ashmir .-.-.Statej' at: the extreme border''of ■Nortli-Vpsterji India, even-in this'ago 'of/mMern 'transportation, a cart froquontly'; is pulled /by a. halfdozen' raen:.aiid moro cheaply than by; oxen or -h'brses'(writes a" traveller in the "Niw. YorkTinies'')'; /The^ only level. .l(,i;d';in/the Statois a. nar'rov.-strip,-.'x-g: the Punjab: frontier.;: rThere;. as well. as. in the rugged''mountainI'valleys • the: people carry'W '.their'agricultural and,; pastoral/pursuits, ..their" famous Ashawls ana.v;fine.: woollens, and; turn /out of : carved.; wood .V for 1 trade, •■-.v-i; ' '::i '■■■■'.:•■■ •■':"■' .'.- ■■:■•:.. '■■-■ : ■ Kashmir 7,is prosperous randats-fi.nan-. o'ial position strong; but, as. is. usual in; ■Indian .provinces/and; States wealth; is confined .to. a few.;- ; A;majqrity of .the-; people, s-faced ,-with:; modern conditions,; might-well;-have' ■encountered economic;, disaster.... A private school); however,; was established in Sprinagar less than;' a quarter.,pi: a/qentury. ago. Intended 1'; for the imprO'veufent of tlie lower castes,! it eventually, appealed'to. all classes'and) helped to supply/-the' necessary ■ stimulus for arousing'a part of the people, to the possibilities/of-improving their situation. I'liii due';time agricultural co-: operative societies were formed and central banks' e'stablislit'd.- The Government appointed ' and paid a registrar •w'lib: organised "and!''aiipe-rvi'scd: '-tlio so-, cielies whoso^niuliiteiiaiiee' was luf li entirely to the members.