“MOTHER INDIA”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22830, 14 March 1936, Page 4

“MOTHER INDIA”

LAND OF MANY PROBLEMS " The Face of Mother India." By Katherlne Mayo. Illustrated. London: Hamilton. 18s Cd. It would be impossible within the compass of one volume of portable dimensions to describe adequately the heterogeneous mass of humanity that inhabits the Indian Peninsula. The difficulties of a gigantic task are, however, partly overcome by the free use of illustrations, of which there are over 400 in this book. These, together with their accompanying captions, present a series of thumbnail impressions that range from the activities of rajahs and princes to the lowliest tasks performed by the " untouchables." The architectural wplendour of India, both past and present, is shown in a wide range of pictures that embraces the glorious monuments of the past—mute testimonies to man's endeavour and religious fervour —while in sharp contrast are the prosaic utility constructions of modern progress, steel and cement cities, bridges, and vast irrigation schemes, the whole forming an har-

monious blend wherein the new is grafted upon the old. In a brilliant foreword Mif- Mayo traces the historical events that have bred the racial antagonisms and class and religious differences which are a prolific cause of the constant friction and political disturbances of to-day. Of such stuff ig the drama of modern life made up. India is shown as the greatest political and social problem ever set an Empire in the world's history, and in a fe.w sentences Miss Mayo strikes at the core of this problem:

Land of internal antagonisms—yet of the many social, political and . moral problems that to-day are knawing at India's vitals, the deepest toothed, the least tamable, the strongest, hottest, fiercest is precisely that which few Western minds seem willing to 'face. As well sing lullabies to erupting Vesuvius, as wisely forget under Etna that everimpending fate, as attempt by any cajolment, any evasion or denial to mask the fiery gulf that yawns between Hindu and Islam.

The work of the British Government in eradicating many age-old evils, in ending the famine peril, and in ajleviating the lot of the physically afflicted is touched upon with Illuminating comments that show the difficulties of social progress when it is beset by caste barriers and superstition. The author endeavours to present an impartial picture, but she is occasionally rash in her generalisations, and fails to give full credit to the work of certain notable Hindu reformers. There is much in Hinduism that is regrettable, and which must be eradicated before India can take her place in the commonwealth of nations. Miss Mayo's summing-up reveals her verdict, and it is definitely pro-Islam. The future, the author refuses resolutely to predict, but she adds:

If instinct, genius and will for good government exist anywhere in mankind, they are lodged with the British whom India burdens with an appalling job.

The Author Kathcrine Mayo was born in Pennsylvania, the daughter of an American mining engineer, and educated in Boston and Cambridge, Mass., at private schools. Part o.f her early life was spent in Dutch Guiana. Her first literary work was in research for other writers, but in 1910, when she was building a home in Bedford Hills, the contractor was murdered. The incident caused her to commence a successful campaign to supplant inadequate local police bv a Pennsylvanian State police force, and from that campaign came her first book, " Justice to All," which Theodore Roosevelt commended. During the war she went to France and investigated the much-criticised American Y.M.C.A. organisation. Her "Mother India," pubHulled a few years ago. was an international best-seller. Miss Mayo's investigations, it is said, are all motivated by a_ strong conviction that " people have a right to know." Other works include "The Isles of Pear," an examination of America's task in the Philippines, and "Soldiers. What Next?" in which she dealt with the "pension army" problem. She is unmarried. G. W. B

Napoleon as Reader An American bibliophile, J. W. Thompson, has published his reminiscences under the title " Byways in Bookland." Among other most interesting papers in Mr Thompson's book is one on " Napoleon As a Bodklover," and a description of his travelling library (of ,4000 volumes). When Napoleon did not like a book he threw it out of the window of his/ 1 carriage. This explains (says Mr Thompson) why so many volumes stamped with his insignia have found their way to the booksellers.

Epidemic According; to A. P. Herbert, M.P., writing, which used to be a profession, is now an epidemic.

A New Zealand Writer Mr Donald Cowic, of Christchureh, who has been a frequent contributor of articles to the Otago Daily Times and other journals, and haw bad success with sliort stories in New Zealand and abroad, is leaving shortly on a visit to England and the Continent. While abroad lie will supervise publication of a novel from his pen which has been accepted by an English publisher.