CALCUTTA RIOTS

Evening Star, Issue 19310, 24 July 1926, Page 10

CALCUTTA RIOTS

RESULT OF RELIGIOUS DISAGREEMENT Hot for many years have there been religious riots between Hindus and Mohammedans on such a scale as those which occurred recently in Calcutta (writes A. Claude Brown, in the ‘Daily Mail’). _ And tho remarkable part of the business is the increaeing boldness shown by the rioters in invading tho European quarter. The scene of the most serious riot was Canning street. This is the centre of the wholesale markets and hero tho warehouses, <r godowns as they are called, of the principal Indian merchants aro to bo found. Canning street is narrow and winding and Invariably choked by bullock carte, motor cars, and hand carls. Ite narrow pavements aro cluttered with coolies, beggars, and small agents, while tho revered cow is very much in evidence, wandering about in joyous liberty, owned by nobody and moved on by none, taking ilfi toll of food from every friendly Hindu it comes across.

It is this self-same cow which is at the root of much of the rioting. To the Hindu it is a sacrod animal, for he believes that the spirits of his forefathers enter into cows, and in their new bodies are entitled to respect and maintenance. This belief does not prevent the Hindu ill-treating such animals as are used as beasts of burden, but they must in no-circumstances Ixs hilled; Iwwevcr maimed or incurable, a friendly Hindu it comes across. The Mohammedans will have none of this. They not only kill tiro cow, but cat its flesh. Hence the religious disagreements which so often cud in rioting. The pig, on the other hand, is an unclean animal to the Mohammedans, and a favorite cause of offence is the throwing of a pig’s carcase by some fanatical Hindu into the precincts of a Mohammedan mosque. The New Market, another scene of rioting, is situated just off Chowringbi,. the principal European shopping centre of the city, tho Regent street of Calcutta. Sahib and memsahib, Indian prince and Indian coolie, all must come hero to buy fresh provisions daily. It is a great one-storied building somewhat on tho lines of Covent Garden Market, covering several acres and containing many hundred shops, os well us the actual markets for meat and vegetables. Here also sit tho money changers behind iron bars, and the writers of letters who, for a small fee, will indite epistles for their illiterate customers. And Ibcy do a roaring trade, for the great proportion of Indians are, illiterate.

Every now and (hen an attempt is made by the leaders of the Swaraj Party to join together the two . rival factions—Mohammedan and Hindu—but always religious differences intervene. Only British rule and British troops stand between the rival factions, giving fair play to each and acting as a pacifying influence when Urn inevitable trouble breaks out.

Those who so glibly demand immediate self-government for India would do well to observe the present outbreak a.nd visualise what would hare been tho state of Calcutta and the security of its European residents had no British police officers _ been there to take control and quell the rioting in time.