LOSS TO INDIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20793, 9 February 1931, Page 11

LOSS TO INDIA.

PANDIT NEHRU DEAD. A FERVENT NATIONALIST. DELHI, Feb. 6. The cause of Indian Nationalism is the poorer by the death at Lucknow to-day of Pandit Motilal Nehru, twice President of the Indian National Congress and father of tho present President. Puresouled and deeply charitable, he loved his country intensely. He abhorred all things foreign. Yet, when lying at death's door, he decided to make a last bid for life by going to King George's Hospital for X-ray treatment, but he died before entering the institution, in the presence of Gandhi and members of his family. All India is in mourning. Pandit Nehru, who was 70 years of age, was released from prison int September last on the recommendation of tho State Medical Board, after serving nearly six months on a charge of being a member of Congress, which was declared an unlawful body.

Pandit Motilal Nehru was born in 1861. He practised at the Bar, and made a considerable fortune. He was elected president of the Indian National Congress in 1919, and joined the non-co-operation movement in 1920. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined Rs. 500 in 1921. In 1922 he founded the Swaraj (Home Rule) Party, and-in 1923 was elected to the Legislative Assembly. In February, 1928, the Indian Assembly, by 68 to 62, voted " no confidence" in the Simon Commission, and Nehru warned the Government that the boycott, if unheeded, would be followed by' a non-co-operation movement. In March he declared that the Indian troops in Shanghai had been let loose to loot the innocent Chinese, and, referring to his recent to Moscow, said the dread of war with England had swollen the Soviet Budget. _ As President of the Congress held in December, 1928, Nehru said he stood for complete independence, but would accept Dominion status, if it were promptly granted. If not, India would work for complete independence. In 1929 Neliiu had a conference with the Viceroy, and in December the Congress, on the motion of Gandhi, refused almost unanimously to participate in the proposed Round-table Conference, demanded complete independence and a boycott of the legislatures and urged repudiation of India's debts. Nehru's hand was forced by the fact that Gandhi had sided with the extremists, led by Nehru's opponent, S. Iyengar. _ The sequel was that Nehru, as leader of the Congress party in the Assembly, ordered all members of legislatures to resign. A split, occurred in the Congress, 30 extremist members forming a separate party. In January, 1930. Nehru seized on the early reports of Earl Russell s speech as having " fully justified the policy of the Congress." CONDUCT OF POLICE. GANDHI SEEKS INQUIRY. DELHI. Feb. G. Gandhi has written to tho Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin, asking for an inquirv into police excesses. If this is granted ib will give an indication of the change of heart, he says. Meanwhile the Legislative Assembly is arguing the motion for a discontinuance of the policy of repression, and an amendment asking for the release of all political prisoners. Congress has decided that civil disobedience must continue till ( they have decided about Mr. Mac Donald s offer. Gandhi, in the face of this, still says he is a man of peace.