MISS MAYO'S CRITICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20402, 2 November 1929, Page 8 (Supplement)

MISS MAYO'S CRITICS.

SEQUEL TO "MOTHER INDIA." " Looking down the cost arias certain •writings here and there sUnd oat ralber as E&alorul events than as mere records. 4 The Origin of Species' xr.d ' Uncle Tea's Cabin' are instances." To this class irsnst be added Miss Kalfcerine Mayo's " Mother India," the terrible book which sect wive vpon mve of honor ever the- western world, and aroused in India I's-elf the rage and ccrodeasaat&a of Hind a political and social .leaders.

-War vdth regard to saca a took as " Mother India," tise one and only qacfcik-a vHdb sbcsold concern readers of sack a book &i " Metier India," is whether it it a trae and accurate statemeat c-f facts. Fer if it is not, then tfc-e asrtlsor is guiltv of xha mcsi hideous injustice to an ancient and widely practised religioai system; but if it is, no ooosMJeratifns of ezpedieacy sfceald be allowed to Llork ibis cnmde against the appaliin;; evils and cruellies which arise ircat oldsence to tils cuh.

" After Mp'.her India," written br Harry IL Field, a yoanj Englishman, who served throughout the War, and who afterwards, in the e&arse of studying it £LiH hand conditions in India, helped in t!i-t editin* of ." Sf'jtber India," «« these doatis at rest once and for aiL la a nsost interesting and Olssoinatsng biographical iw/te oa Miss -Mayo, it is stated that lf»r literary work lon ia 13% *ub historical article? co Asdao Colonial topics.. and were mmmeaSeA —a point jjjedallT to be noted- —for their rmfci and roeticaloas accuracy. Later in a m«rder cafe, wfcere throsgb ifce innjcidatioa of gasmen ibe pro&eeatica broke down," she set down bravely she knew in a pamphlet entitled " Justice For All." Later during tire War she pafclished " Ha', Damn Y"' an inquiry into the objects aad tneihods of the American Y.il.C.

These biographical details are l>y a© means without relersr.ee for they prove Miss Mayo, long before " M&ther India" was written., to have keen recognised as a trained and sccorate observer, absolutely impartial, utterly fearless in setting dowa (he trath and intellectually eqaipped to set out her points forcibly and concisely. Sot cwi of the many refutations of " Mother India." has pw»} 4h« truth of its assertions against Miss Mayo's veracity, while in some < o*es. rsotaUy in bat of Mr. Gfjandi. the denial is pr<?n to somethins that- Miss Mayo nwer said. Wild allegations of political propaganda work, tabiidised by Britain, have l-een abundantly disprored. Indeed, ?«liss Mayo's most effective work is don<* fey qsjo?atior»s from the *j»eecbes snd writings of Ilinda leaders themselves.

" The primary object of ' Mother lntj:a,' as the author makes clear sn her first chapter, was. however, not to reform bet to inform. Tins morrnm~ power since developed by the book as toward the Hindu s>ocsai status, has hwvi besiowwl upon it by those harsdreds of thousands pi Western Traders have grasped its message. But if for any reason whatever, its issues arc allowed to be Marred ovr, eonfosed or {*rist«d. tb<*n, perhaps, She greatest impulse -for reform in Hindu India's telciy may be frittered away." " Mi*r 3fotfeer l!sdi'»," l«r Harry IT. Field |Jonathan Carei. i"' '■<' 1111