UNREST IN INDIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13583, 12 September 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

UNREST IN INDIA.

THE CHANGELESS INDIAN. BY JOSEPH M'FARLANB. To-day Britain treads on a vast slumbering volcano, which, during the past 200 years, has slowly but surely been growing more powerful and more extensive. Let her reduce pressure for a moment, suddenly its long pent-up fires, bursting forth at a thousand different points, will devastate the Empire; for the policy of the British Government is diametrically opposed to the conception of the old ideals which still possess tho Indian mind, even at this period when all other Eastern nations are awakening. Although these ideals are not now so apparent, although they are somewhat modilied, there is no substantial evidence to indicate that there has been any real internal change in the attitude of the people to one another, and therefore to a policy of wiso and humanitarian self-government, And who in India has not pictured the arising? Two hundred million united for » short hour over a common cause—to drive out the foreigner, then unity no more for ever. Hindu attacking the Parsi, M'ahomedan (spelt also Muhammadon and Mohammedan, etc.) fighting the Hindu, tribe against tribe, caste intolerant to caste, protection gone, the incoming of robber and bloodthirsty tribes, as in the days of the Mogul Emperors, when, out of 20 Princes, 14 were murdered or died violent deaths, four were blinded, and two died in prison. Many now speak of " the good old days. The question for the British Government cannot now be whether or not it was right to take possession of Tndia, but how to discharge her responsibilities to those helpless and unprotected millions. It is the desire of the British Government to unite them all in one great Empire, working together for the common good. Disunion has been the curst of tho country, rendering it an easy prey to every foreign invader. This spirit is still strong.

POPULAR SOCIALISM FOR INDIA. Socialism! A term which hue as many definitions as exponents. To the theologian, Christianity in practice; to the crowd, creating conditions which will make an equal division of wealth permanent; but to the most thoughtful at all times it has simply stood equal opportunity to all. The Socialism which line been preached in India has had for its basis abuse of the British Government, and has advocated "liberty and rights." Modern Socialism for India! How ghastly the thought in the light of the state of the people. " The best form of government for any State depends upon the condition of the "people. A wise despotism is th© most suitable for a low state of civilisation. As people become more and more enlightened they should have a larger and larger share in the government of a country " The recognition of this fundamental truth has been strangely overlooked by recent, writers and speakers in dealing with problems relating to India. It is safe to assert that mistakes made in the government have been in a great measure the direct result of not understanding the condition of the people, at the. particular time It may be right to proclaim to the world that all men should DO free, but to apply this to insane asylums would be a terrible sin against humanity, tor. alas, freedom has still to be won through the fight and to be maintained by resistance without and protection within. Without a true kr-owledge of these people of India to-day an opinion on> the problems of the Indian Empire and British rr.le there cannot justifiably be held, much lees given* expression to; mauy have been and are doing both in India and in the Homelands. ANARCHY. And with no other people is there a greater need for a deep and close ttudy of character than with the Indian, and never a time more imperative than the present, because of the spirit of unrest, not only in Bengal, but throughout the whole Empire, and this spirit of discontent is fed by those who love neither the people of India nor of Britain. There can be no doubt that this movement has its source and power, not from the ignorant masses, but from a comparatively snt:t'« number of the intelligent and wealtliy natives, for racial jealousy, greed of office, diffusion of ill-assimilated education, and numerous grievances could not of themselves produce the strength of sustained organisation that is seen in the present unrest. But although this movement at present is from the wrong centre, and its spirit fraught*with only danger and disaster to the Empire, yet in it can he discerned the promise of better things to come at a later period, when true patriots shall come forward on behalf of the people. "THAT HIDDEN INDIAN MIND." It has often been said that the subtle Indian mind no white man can know; that children of foreigners have been born there and have lived among the people all their lives and, dying, have said: "We do not understand them yet." Strange! Yet not without parallel among other people. The writer remembers just such a case of a good Britisher whose wife on one occasion said despairingly that she could not understand her husband, and when asked how long she had known him, said: "Wo have lived together for 60 years, a family has grown up around us, each one has married and left home, yet I do not know—yet." We look to the Indian himself for the revelation, and what do we find? We soon discover that ho does not know himself. His mind tricks him, leads him on until he is lost in a maze of philosophy, of vague reasonings, unpractical speculations about pact and future, until he is forced to cry out: "I know nothing! Nothing! I am in darkness." The ijl-balanced, unpractical Indian mind is not at present capable of governing oven a fowl-roost or a farmyard. Take his conception of humanitarian legislation. His deeds of mercy and charity are found illustrated in " Pinjrapole," which is a large enclosure in Bombay, where they are gathered together all the mis-shapen, deformed animals and freaks of Nature that can be discovered. Here they are fed just sufficiontlv to keep them from starving. Wealthy Hindus, who would not look at a lower caste man, although he might be dying from lack of food, will support this kind of evil from year to' year.' The barking of scores of mangy dogs as you enter, the-moaning of cattle in distress, and many other horrible sounds—the language of pain from this numerous collection of varioKS kinds, prove that it would indeed be a deed of mercy to relieve all their sufferings speedily. But the Hindu cares more, far more, for the supposed soul in these distressed and filthy animals than he does for the millions of his Hindu brothers who are starving for,, want of food. Pinjrapole is a sight to make one weep, for the torture that these poor animals are suffering must be intense, and the money spent on this place alone would keep thousands from starving during famine times. It is true that when we try to get to the centre cf things in India we must consult the Hindu mind and enter his home. Here we have touched the very quivering centre of every really serious problem which is occupying the Government to-day. Although _ thousands have tried before and failed, it is our privilege, with the increasing knowledge from the experience of those who have gone before, to make th© attempt again. The Hindu belongs to the proudest race the world has ever ; known. His estimate ■. of a Britisher is about the following: "A J man from a strange land and suffering from leukoderma. A being with a red —so has the devil. He has a violent, uncontrollable temper ; is of giant strength, and a handful of his countrymen have conquered and held India. He is of the dirtiest habits, eating the vilest food, such as cow's flesh and pigs meat, and has for his servants the lowest castes, who actually clean his dishes and .hand in his food, which he eats with a spoon, and this spoon he repeatedly puts into bis mouth!" etc.