INDIA.

Northern Advocate, 23 July 1923, Page 6

INDIA.

NO PLACE FOB THE EUROPEAN

(By Triton)

Life for the average European in India was once upon a time a pleasant stay of many years of profit and romance, likened almost to an Arabian Night's dream ccmc true. But that was long ago, and the, romance and afflluence that you eould find in those good old days have now -practically gone, while present-day conditions show clearly that the possibilities aud other ©harms which attracted thousands of English, Scotch and other Europeans in the past to seek their fortunes in Bombay, Calcutta, and other parts of Indiu will never return again. Not. anyhow, to the jaded, harassed, befooled Europ.ean worker of, 1923,.wh0, after answering the, call of the East, arrives in the midst of pan (.a native form of betel nut) and punkhas, tp ; find that India is merely li Bnare and a delusioh "and a.horrible mistake.

• Th&rcasons for the change are;,,not hard to'find. The Westernej;..has so Itfrig taught the Indian how t0.,d0 mostly everything in the way of trade and professions, which he' before alone could do—and still^'incrcifuliy, in most cases generally does better —that his J counsels are-nb longer so indispensable as they were in the dark days of Indian 1 ignorance and inexperience. As a result tho European is not wanted now so .bftdly, neither is he considered to,-be worth more, than a very normal salary, .which in moft eases is totally insufficient as a ,spending power, after the landlord or boarding-house proprietor has had his share. Modern burra sahibs (big busine?s men) and.-business heads are not of the quality India once possessed. The old times knew not tho "new idea" crank or the racial equality advocate of recent years, wlio, ; having gathered together a substantial fortune by various means, spends the last years of his stay patting the back* of useful Indians, and making thembelieve that their colour is a virtue.

Thankfully, these gentry pass from the country ratlier speedily—when they decide to go—but generally not before their pecuniary interests are transferred to a safe haven, well away from the land that gave them much wealth and temporary glory. Others, less wise, remain to gather up more and more, even it would seem as though just to prevent the weary "waiters" from coming into their incomes and well-worn effice desks.

Many students of society contend | that Europeans of % both sexes who make a lengthy stay in India deteriorate beyond redemption, and when one looks around amongst some of the "old:timers" there is a certain amount of evidence to support the charge. It is also said, that many men in India .wTfctl) are fortunately placed would be dqiued important employment elsewhere, and tho remark is .possibly quite justified in many cases by personal experience.

All over India there *are still many greedy partners and job ' hanger^on," who intend to tak<i all the juice from the lemon before ihey will return to their native heaths, and decide that it is time to lie clown and' die. In-

deed, it is small wonder that many of - »' thos-o who- have remained over-long have found a perpetual resting place

But it is not these types who are feeling tho pinch of new times and new conditions in India at present. It is the man "of the last five years who is bewildered, in fact he is the most bewildered and dissatisfied European in the country to-day. He has nothing, and is worth nothing. There is no vision for the future when you try to look through bad trade returns, liquidations, high living costs, low salaries, staff reductions, no bonuses, no wife, no credit, Indianisation, and perspiration.

On every side there is the writing on the wall that the day of the Eui;opoan in India is to all profitable and comfortable purposes finished. How much longov, then, will men continue to waste their lives in a land that can offer 90 per cent, of them nothing better than a bank overdraft, or the boot, or" both.