Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Over 50 Years.] FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1927. MOTHER INDIA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 23 December 1927, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Over 50 Years.] FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1927. MOTHER INDIA.

Favourable testimony from an independent witness is always welcome, and “Mother .India,” by Dr. Katherine Mayo, is a striking vindication of British rule in India. Miss Mayo is an American . doctor of medicine, who wished to observe for herself “the common things in daily human life in India.” The result is an arrestingbook, which throws illuminating light on the problems of India. Dr. Mayo is aware of the dangers of generalisation in so huge a country. Nevertheless, she is quite satisfied that her principal conclusion is valid. Dr. Mayo discusses various aspects of India’s problem. There is, for instance, the one caused by the barriers of caste. There are in India 60,000,000 “untouchables,” who are absolutely 'outside India’s social organisation. Again, there is a horde of University graduates who hold it beneath their dignity to engage in any employment except- that of a Government official, and hotly assail the Administration if there are no openings in the Public Service. There is an element of humour in the situation, serious though it be. What a Homeric laugh, thinks Dr. Mayo, “would greet the American' lad just out of Yale or Harvard or Leland Stanford who should present his shining sheep skin as a draft on. the Treasury Department, and who should tragically re-fuse any form of work save anti-Government agitation if the draft were not promptly cashed.” Dr. Mayo firmly believes that the withdrawal of the English would be an unqualified disaster for India. Take, for example, the native princes. Their subjects belong to lighting races, and they themselves maintain armies. They are on excellent terms with the British, but entertain a profound contempt for the Hindus, to whom they would in no circumstances submit. “Our treaties are with the Crown of England,” said one of them to Dr. Mayo. “.The princes of India made no treaty with a Government that included Bengali babus. We shall never deal with this new lot of Jacks-in-office. While Britain stays Britain will send us English gentlemen to speak for the Iving-Emperors, and all will be as it should he between friends. If England leaves us, we, the princes, will know how to straighten out India even as princes should.” The Nationalists talk frothily about India’s degradation, hut they shut their eyes to its fundamental origin, and show no concern for' the status of the masses, while they curse the one Power which, however little to their liking, is doing practically all of whatever is done for the comfort of sad old Mother India. At Delhi the author attended a little party, at which tlie guests, Bengali Hindus of the professional class, talked of the coming expulsion of the British and of the day when they themselves would rule the land. What was their plan Tor the princes? she asked. “We shall wipe them out,” exclaimed one with conviction, and the rest nodded assent. The. wining out would be on the other side. The religious feuds are too strong and the Hindus too lacking in martial prowess.