THE LAND OF SNOBS

Southland Times, Issue 19278, 24 June 1924, Page 6

THE LAND OF SNOBS

INDIA THE PARADISE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS. “I think one of the great stumbling blocks to better social understanding amongst Europeans in India is the spirit of- ‘snobbishness’ so strong in the present generation,” said Colonel J. D. Crawford, secretary of the European Association, at a Rotary Club meeting at Calcutta, in April, reports the Englishman. India, continued the Colonel, had been called the paradise of the middle class, the land of snobs. It had been suggested to him that the beginning of the social difficulties amongst Europeans in India could be traced to the old East India Company, whose jealousy against commercial competition from outside sources gave rise to the bitterness of feeling between the officials of the Company and outside merch/ants, a tradition which unfortunately appeared to have continued until the close of the last century as between Government officials and business men. He did not think that Government officials were blameless in this respect. The apparent importance of their positions bred in them a spirit of intolerance towards other walks of life. Blame, however, could also be attached to others, who, being snobs within the true definition of the word, had toadied to the temporary position of these “tin hats.” The situation to-day was different, and he felt that if any snobbishness did exist, it would be eliminated in the course of time.

A large factor in the problem of European social life, Colonel Crawford said, was the club life, which bred cliquishness and accentuated social differences. He was amongst those who considered that the absence of home life in India and the exploitation of clubs are to some extent responsible for the Europeans’ loss of touch with the people of India.