New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
\ Hindu Flash.
light on Mod.
ern India
Under the heading, THE Kings
Indian Allies" st. Nihal Singh,

II lIluldU TtlIlcc, ~. Nludl DllSH,
well known Hindu writer, author
Of "India's Fighters" Progressive Brit
ish India" "Japan's Modernization," etc,
published with Sampson Low, Marston {
Co. (London), a highly suggestive book
full of firsthand information, on the seven
hundred-odd rajahs (princes) and their va.
rious provinces Of India, subject to their
real or nominal rule, which cover an area
of more than $4,000 square miles and are
inhabited by more than 100000 people.
British-Indian laws do not prevail In
this large territory and its inhabitants are
not under the jurisdiction Of the British.
Indian courts.
The areas Of the individual states range
from to $4,000 square miles, the number
Of inhabitants from $50 &C. 100000;
the. annual incomes of these 700 states
fluctuate from SIS to Sl5,000,00O.
Even the smallest of these native rulers,
however, is privileged person aud can
not be sued in British court without tho
direct consent of the government Of India.
The author deprecates in vivid terms
the distorted impression we Occidentas
continue to have on account Of the Indian
inaharajahs C'grand dukes") who are gen.
orally represented as strutting about IN
robes of rich brocades, wearing priceless
jewelry, Willing away their time in eIe'
plant fights and other barbarc sports.
The truth is that a large minority Of INC
powerful princes are Western in their en-
tire outlook upon life, importing cgricul'
tural implements from Europe and the
United States. building irrigation worn
on large scale, persuading their subleen
to engage in mining, manufacturing sn'
commercial pursuits, organizing absolute
ly up-to-date banking systems, encourag'
ing scientific enterprises and spreading
popular education, including in their cam
paign of enlightenment women, yea, INC
pariahs themselves. j..
And the wives of the reigning princess
Many Of them were educated European
fashion and are helping their husbands 10
their reform work, in brief, beng IN
every regard worthy successors to the
Indian queens of ancient and medleVa'
times, many of whom distinguished tnem'
selves as administrators, warriors, poe"
and scientists.
The relative slowness of the progress
attained is mainly due to the eonservatl"
habits of the people, who fear that inc
new ideas will undermine the religious
faith and the ethical code of the fatf'sis'
Il is little known that the Indiar raJan'
maintain a permanent army OF son'
100000 men. Twenty-Five thousand, 'n'
so-caled Imperial Service Troops, are u'
special bodyguard of John Bull, in or ou'
of the peninsula, as the need may arse
Sixteen rajahs enlisted in the present war
To round up this general survey wl'A
a few more specific data about the eau0''
tional status of India, it is well TO sta~
that nine -tenths of the population IN cl''e'
and villages alike are illiterate. ms o0e'
not mean, however, that they are Grass
ignoramuses. Millions Of these illitera's
men and women are living storehouseS %
ancient traditions and religious lore
The percentage of lteracy IN the wv
States Of Cochin and Travancore' wne''
25 per cent of the people are Christmas
is 1871 and Is, respectively =,
In order to facilitate the spread '"
culture and establish a solid foundau'.
for Indian unity, an interesting moveme"'
Is on foot aiming at the fusion OF tne WV
principal languages current in opP.'
India, Hindustani and Hind, by elim'n"s
ing the undigested Arabic and ferS,..
words and phrases from the first, ana w
purely Sanskrit terms from the seeoh''
Schools in the larger cities make 'p
cialty of teaching English. .