PROBLEMS IN INDIA

Evening Star, Issue 19003, 27 July 1925, Page 5

PROBLEMS IN INDIA

PROVINCIAL AUTONOMY i REPORTED OFFER. Fre<a Association—^By Telegraph—<Copyrlgit.\ LONDON, July 24. I The ' Daily Herald ’ states that it is! reported that the Government has aivij thorised Lord Reading (the Viceroy)to offer to the Swarajist leaders full provincial autonomy and a round-table conference on problems jf central gow eminent in return for the abandon-, ment of non-co-operation and all antiRritish agitation. If an agreement is reached King George will visit India during the coming winter. —A. and N.Z. Cable. LORD READING’S RETURN ON LEAVE. “The news that Lord Reading hag been invited to come holne to consult with the Government and that another high Indian official, Sir Harconrt Butler, will be in England at the same time, has excited comparatively htiLe notice in England, but we may ne sure that it has created a considerable -stir in India. “ The surmise is natural that soma new departure is pending, 'and snica the present Secretary of State is a rather dashing personality, his intentions may be magnified beyond probability,” writes Mr J. A. Spender, nr the ‘ Westminster Gazette,’ in March, last. “ If there is any new departure bos yond “always keeping the door opaa to constitutional movements for the de-i velopment of free institutions, I wc«ht ' suggest that it should bo ccomunjflf rather than political. “ The Government of India r.as so absorbed in politics during the fagl few years that the economic hide of,Ka duties has seemed to fade out of -tsqj picture. Yet the material cotidillmij of the masses is always behind their politics; and if the small minority «f literate politicians is able to stir tin in . to disaffection, it is because it can point to their poverty, and allege that the British Government is the author! of it. j “ That is, of course, a calumny, but it is undoubtedly true that Bnt’tii administration, by checking famine and disease, has enabled a far greater number of 'people to survive than the pre-j sent produce of the soil will maiaujn on a comfortable standard of living. “ Indian ■ agriculture is still )',fa dieval; the Indian law of property encourages perpetual subdivision of suiVdl holdings among large families; relief by emigration is difficult, if not impassible, owing the attitude of European settlers .in the regions wiudi would otherwise be available for luF surplus population. “If there are to be no outlets for the Indians, and their increase is to continue, there is only one way of dealing with the situation, and that' is to increase the productiveness of India itself.

“ There are immeasurable opportunities for tills. No one can have looked at the Punjaub or the Central Pjovhires and seen the little agriculture which scratches the potentially lull soil without seeing both the pitifui'i ’SH of the present result and the possibil'.. ties. “J suppose the lood supplies of India could 1)0 multiplied two and threefold by a very moderate application or .scientific!'agriculture. “ What is true of agriculture is true, also of industry. With lew exceptions there arc no industrial outlets for native talent,. The educated young Indian, has as a rule a choice or only three professions, lie may become a lawyer; be may become an official; bo may become a journalist. “ Litigation is one of ibe curses ot India, and there are more than cnougu lav,'vers. There are certainly enough journalists, and there arc not enougli official posts to go round. The insult is to leave a large*, restless, ptharplyintelligent, unoccupied class, _ which finds its vent, and sometimes its living,, in political agitation. ■’•Many of these young men are excellent material, with .scientific and mechanical capacities quite as good as those of young Englishmen of the. same age and training. They ought to bo at work starting businesses and industries in India, and the Government of India ought to give them a definite lead in tins direction. “So if the Secretary of State and the Viceroy are planning a new departure, I suggest that it should be on these lines.

Let I hem start an economic: Commission divided into two parts, agricultural and industrial, provide it will) the best brains (Hritish and Indian). and appeal to all India to come in and see what cad he done to moke life in India a heller thing lor the Indian."