The Wanganui Chronicle MONDAY, MARCH 23, 1942 INDIA’S MOSLEM PROBLEM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 69, 23 March 1942, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle MONDAY, MARCH 23, 1942 INDIA’S MOSLEM PROBLEM

INDIA’S .Moslem problem, if it could be solved, would provide one of tin- most satisfactory steps toward the solution of India’s many problems. The Moslems of India are the late-comers to the country, but they represent to-day the more virile section of the community. Numerically their 78 millions are overshadowed by the 239 millions of Hindus, and Mr. Jinnah, the leader of the Moslem League, sees the only solution to this problem in the setting up of distinctly Moslem States. The native State of Hyderabad is a Mohammedan State, as arc also those areas which are usually coloured yellow on the maps of India. Mr. Jinnah’s demand is therefore not unreasonable when he proclaims that if Mosh in principalities can operate successfully, then so may .Moslem States I with a democratic regime. He is fortified in this veiw also by the democratic character of the Mohammedan religion. i The setting up of separate States on a religious basis, while attractive from the Moslem standpoint, and especially so if a com■osite State were established in the North-Western Provinces, would provide the foundation for the break-up of the sub-con-tinent’s comprehensiveness. If the Moslem States of India were . io feel a cohesiveness with the Moslem countries of Western Asia particularly in the Arabic and Persian areas, then a grouping similar to the days of the Persian conquerors might be re-estab-lished. This possibility cannot he absent from Mr. Jinnah’s mind i and he may feel that, with the Moslem States of the North foi immediate neighbours, the Moslem North-Western State would bi i aide to talk on equal terms to the Hindu States. Unfortunately ■ talking on equal terms by reason of foreign backing, has beer I proved in recent years to be but the forerunner of the forcigi Power taking first place. The solution of India’s Moslem prob lem does not, in the light of experience, appear to be in the di rection which is advocated bv .Mr. Jinnah.