Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-11
HOME RULE FOR
INDIA MUST COME
Inflated Idea Of Their Import
ance Arouses Ambitions Of
Nations Leaders.
EFFECT OF EDUCATION

hiattNio nav TAMIL oi AL ahiNa piohf-
inenee in India Of late, due largely,
according to the general expression
of opinion, to the fact that the war
has shown the people of this country
their importance to the rest OF the
empire, thereby arousing their aspira-
tons for progress. Naturally the sub
jcct OF ultimate home rule occupies
large place in the thoughts OF the
Indian politician, few of the So
called ultra-radicals even advocating
the immediate granting of some form
of self-government.
The questions OF what the British
government ought to do and intends
to do towards bestowing further po-
litical powers on the Indian and of
how much immediate advance the In
dian himself is capable of making, are
being generally and eagerly discussed.
A correspondent of The Associated
Press has discussed these questions
with scores of prominent Europeans
and Indians during the last few
months. Some extremely radical views
were encountered, but the majority
Of those who expressed an opinion
met on certain common grounds which
are well summarized in an interview
with the Rev. DR.. ]. c. R. Ewing,
the weil-known American educator,
who for the last seven years has oc-
eupied the important post Of vice
chancellor or president OF the Uni
versity Of the Punjah. DR.. Ewing is
the only American who has ever been
accorded so high an honor in India
a. was bestowed upon him when he
was made head Of this university to
direct the activities Of twenty-seven
affiliated colleges in the province, with
their student population of some
1900. As a mark of appreciation for
his services to this country he was
decorated by the king in 1914, being
made companion Of the Indian em-
pire. He has made q deep study OF
political questions In India and not
infrequently has been consulted by
government officials on delicate mat
tiers Of policy.
DR.. Ewing expressed the belief that
home rule for India was inevitable,
but declared that the country was not
prepared for it at the moment and
would not be ready for this important
step for many years to come.
Western Education.
when the British government at
the time Of Lord Macauley intro
duced western education into India
it opened the door for self-govern-
ment,' said the doctor. "Such a step,
involving the teaching of democratic
ideals, could have no other result. II
was the crossing OF the Rubicon, and
there is no turning back. To do the
British government justice, believe
that they made this move with the
full knowledge OF what the outcome
must be, and that they have always
had in mind the ultimate granting OF
home rule to the people Of Hindu
stan.
There are, OF course. various
shades OF opinion among both Euro
pcans and Indians as to the speed
toward which the home rule goal
should be approached. The great bulk
OF the people OF India are illiterate,
something like 81 per cent, according
to the latest statistics, but among the
other 6 per cent there are many high |
" educated and brilliant men who
could be called upon to play their
part in government. Home rule can
never become an accomplished fact
until a trained body OF Indians has
been raised up. And in order to
achieve this one Of the most impor-
tant steps will be the opening up OF
the civil service to a still greater ex-
tent to the educated Indian. Not only
must this be done, but Indian and
British government employees must be
placed on the same footing and must
learn to work in close cooperation.
Not Nation.
foreigners in considering home
rule for India often make the mis-
take OF looking upon India as ma
ton. As matter Of fact, Hindustan
represents many races and many Ian
guages and in the process Of unihca-
ton there are IS many difficulties to
be overcome as there would be. for
instance, in an attempt to bring all
the various countries OF North and
South America under one government.
Moreover, the average Indian of
the so-called illiterate class knows
nothing Of politics and takes no in
terest in problems Of government. He
is mainly concerned with his own lit
tie personal matters and 50 long as
conditions Of government favor him
in the pursuit Of his affairs Il makes
small difference to him what that gov
eminent is or what shape il takes.
THE ideas OF democracy are en-
tirely foreign to the bulk Of India.
For endless centuries, until the as
sumption Of British rule, the people
were governed as conquered race,
and 50 thoroughly has the idea Of
, subjection been instilled that it will
be exceedingly hard for them to break
away from the belief that they can
have no voice in governing them
selves. But all this is bound to
cnanBe gradually Will thS sPiSau VI
general education.
Zone great stumbling block in the
way OF democracy is the fact that the
Indian never has learned to bow to
the will Of the majority. This may
be seen wherever bodies OF Indians
come together for the discussion OF
matters OF mutual interest. Opinion
is divided along partisan lines, fam
lily, racial and religious ties playing
an important part in the division. The
fact that the majority decide that Ger.
tain things are for the best means
nothing to the minority, and a split
Of the body into two or more factions
is almost inevitable. This character
istic is something that must be over
come before any success can be