INDIA AND ITS PEOPLE

New Zealand Tablet, 1 June 1911, Page 1019

INDIA AND ITS PEOPLE

IMPRESSIONS OF AN AMERICAN VISITOR The Rev. Dr. Roche, who paid a visit to India in the early part of this year, gives his impressions, of the country, the people, and the progress'of the Catholic Church in a series of articles in the Catholic Tribune of Dubuque, lowa. .Writing from Calcutta, he says: One hundred years ago the annals of India were filled with the deeds of a strange European adventurer. He was called by his Indian followers Samroo,’ from the French Lo Sombre, a nickname, which he received because of his swarthy complexion. A Luxemburger by birth, his real name was Reinhart. He fought under the banners of many native princes, and for a time was the military governor of Agra. He married an Indian princess, who after his death became noted as a military leader. She commanded her own troops in battle and was as illustrious for her statesmanship as for her military prowess. My chief reason for treating of her here lies in the, fact that&ardaiia about a hundred miles from Agra and the seat of her rule, is to-day one of the most flourishing Catholic missions in the whole of India. A convert to Christianity, she built at Sardana a magnificent cathedral, and her example was instrumental in leading many natives into the Church. His Grace Archbishop Gentili of, Agra desired verymuch that I should pay a visit,to Sardana, but time was pressing, and it was impossible for me to accept the invitation. His Grace, however, informed me that new converts made in other parts of his archdiocese were frequently sent there,

because of , the good moral surroundings and the favorable influences as far-as caste is concerned. It is in charge of the Capuchin Fathers, who are the spiritual custodians of a large portion of Northern India. I was greatly impressed , by the zeal ■■ and devotion of these good Fathers, wherever I have met them, and the small towns and villages of India certainly call for zeal and devotion of a high order. • v - Alleged Unrest in India. People in America read much nowadays" of the unrest, which is supposed to prevail everywhere throughout this country. We have gone round the circle, however, and have not seen very much of it. I have discussed the subject with educated natives, and with English officials, -who have lived here for many years. All agree that India is more tranquil to-day than it has- been for centuries. Appearances bear out this assertion. I have not seen anywhere the slightest evidence of animosity towards the white stranger. You will encounter much more sullenness in any European country than you will here in India. Some educated Brahmins have been getting out pamphlets, in which they deplore English occupation and call upon the peeople to rally once again round their old priests and leaders. This, however ,is only the swan-song of a caste, which is trying to regain its lost prerogatives. The Brahmin’s, day is over in, India, and even the. humblest pariah recognises that truth. About one-hajf of India is directly under British rule. TJje rest is made up of protected native states, where Maharajahs, Rajahs, ana petty princes exercise a limited sovereignity. In former days the country was in a constant state of internecine strife. The old animosities still live, and if England were to wthdraw tomorrow, it would be a signal for the renewal of the ancient quarrels. The people as a whole are enjoying the-, present peaceful condition of things, and as it takes very little to live here, I believe they are about as well off as' at any time in the country’s, history. We have heard in America, too, a good deal about oppression. There is still oppression, but it is the bribe-taking native official and tax-collector, who ,are the real culprits, and to change this the whole moral system of India has to be overturned. Taking the Lead. , I lectured to the students and some invited guests in the Loretto Convent of this city. The Loretto sisterhood

has five of the leading educational institutions for women in Ipdia. : Young ladies attending there can take the Cambridge 8.A.,' and the courses of . studies are arranged - accordingly. The convent receives its pupils from the very creme do-, la creme of Indian society, and amongst my hearers were several young native princesses, dressed in all the jewels and finery proper to their rank. There were Pagans, Jews, and'Protestants of many creeds, but they were a simple, innocent-looking lot of young ladies, and all of them bore the convent trade-mark. • -- r r The local Jesuit College is a very large institution, and the president informed me that all of its graduates passed the Cambridge and London University " examinations, 1 ’ %As Calcutta last year had over one million inhabitants, it is easy to understand that the attendance is- over twice that of any Catholic college in the United , States. The total Catholic population of the Calcutta archdiocese is about 200,000 of whom 80,000 are . catechumens. U And • thereby runs a very interesting tale. His Grace Archbishop Meuleman, S.J., informed me that Chota-Nagpur, a district within the limits of his diocese, is now the scene-of a Pentecostal turning to the Church. Chota-Nagpur is the name given to the central Punjaub. It was formerly a famine-cursed district, inhabited by tribes who were desperately poor. In recent years, however, the Government has undetraken to irrigate the country on a large scale and this, -..together with the building of railways, has brought the district rapidly to the front. A sainted young Belgian Jesuit, about thirty years ago came amongst them for the space , of six years, sharing their - lot and edifying them by the holiness, of ■ his life. When he died from, hardships and exposure pf his trying mission, the seed had been planted of which his brethren are ' now reaping the fruit. To-day there are 60,000 catechumens in the district, and his Grace is firm in the belief that . with men and means the whole district could easily be brought into the Church. In the olden days, it was .so desperately poor that' the Brahmins paid no attention to it. As a result it is largely free from the caste system, which proves so great an obstacle in other parts. ‘