INDIA’S FUTURE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10816, 4 February 1921, Page 6

INDIA’S FUTURE

FAR-REACHING CHANCES IMPORTANT CEREMONY AT CALCUTTA. EXPLANATION BY GHANDI. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright .lustruhaa aim { o DELHI, February 1. The Duke of Connaught formally inaugurated the Bengal Legislative Council in the Town Hall at Calcutta in the presence of the new Indian Ministers and members of the Executive Council. Big crowds lined the streets and cheered the Duke, whose speech outlined the heavy responsibilities conferred upon the new council in the farreaching changes which its inauguration portended. He cherished great expectations from the era now dawning upon India, in which the Indian members would be associated with their European fellow-oitizens. The Governor of Bengal (Lord Ronaldshay), in a speech, dwelt upon the changes involved under the reformed scheme. The number of voters, formerly twelve thousand, was now over a million. He appealed to the Bengalese and British members to work together in unity. Ghandi has sent a letter to the Duke of Connaught, explaining his reasons for the boycott of his visit to Calcutta. He says it was meant as a demonstration against the system, not against the Duke. The non-co-operators are seeking -to destroy a system which made recent happenings under General Dyer possible and resulted in a wanton affront to Islam. Ghandi adds that the Duke of Connaught has come to India not to end but to sustain the system. Ho asks him and every Englishman to try and appreciate the non-co-operators’ point of view.