AFFAIRS IN INDIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22905, 12 June 1936, Page 11

AFFAIRS IN INDIA

THE POLITICAL SITUATION ;; ADDRESS BY DR ANDREWS Dr C. F. Andrews, who was president of. the Trades' Union Congress and a personal friend of most of the Indian revov lutionary leaders, spoke last night under; the auspices of the Student Christian Movement and the Public Questions Union of the Otago University on certain aspects of the Indian political situation, '.j Dr Andrews said that he was a revolutionary, but a moral- revolutionary. He. stressed the vatue of Mr Gandhi's teach-, ing of "Satja" and "Ahimsa" —"truth"; and "non-violence." In reference to this; he criticised the present capitalistic sys' : . tem as having violence and untruth behind" it. On the other hand, the Communism which now stood opposed to this systemshowed no clear and distinct reference:, to the ideals of truth and non-violence. Mr Gandhi's practice of these two principles had shown their value and should teach all Christians a lesson. Nehru, theyounger Indian leader who was now com-* ing to the fore, was a Socialist entirely-' wrapped up in the new idealism of the Communist Movement, but still adhered, to Mr Gandhi's two principles. Dr An-, drews thought that the goal of Socialism! in India seemed very far ahead because' of the backwardness and lingering < medievalism of the country. Much, how-' ever, of what was being worked out in* Europe, and especially in Russia, wouldbe of supreme value to the masses of* India, who were the poorest people in the world. ■,, In connection with India's aspirations for freedom, Dr Andrews was in entire sympathy with these, though he by no means agreed with the contention thata Britain's interest in India was purely selfish. India should be allowed to choose for herself whether or not she. would remain in the British Common-, wealth of Nations. The new Constitu-. tion worked out for India was condemnedeven by moderate Indian elements, be-, cause under it 80 per cent, of the Budget was not under the control of votes. It meant some advance in the provinces, but* the centre especially was more hedged in,s with vested interests than ever under the, old Constitution. ~ When asked what would happen if Britain were to withdraw her frontier forces in India, Dr Andrews advocatedan immediate reduction of these forces' by at least half. He dismissed the supposed danger from Russia on the grounds, that that country was preoccupied with; the danger which threatened from Japan and Germany. He mentioned that one, of the Afghan leaders had adopted Mr Gandhi's principles of truth and non-" violence.

In answer to 'a question about tho veracity of Katherine Mayo'e " Mother India," Dr Andrews said that this book was false almost from beginning to end, particularly in its references to Rabindranath Tagore.