Pueblo chieftain., 1921-01-30
THE QUESTION OF |ND|A|
NEARLY AS DESPERATE
As THAT OF |RElANO'
CONTINUED from Preceding rase->

anti-Nationalist groups, particularly |
the Mohammeda.ns and the low-caste
Hindus. For it is fact significant of
the complexity of the Indian problem
for. the Nationalist movement and
look upon the present British
autocracy as shield against
Nationalist Nationalist oppression and dis
India, who. as already stated, form
sharply divided among themselves.
some .cleavtng to the Nationalist
cause, while others believe that Indian
Nationalism, being predominantly a
ems to swamp them beneath the
weight of the Hindu majority. This
predominance of the high caste Bra
hmins likewise explains the opposi-
ton of the low-caste Hindus to Indian
home rule. So great is the low-caste
ton upder the British Raj and of
being subjected to the domination of
a high-caste Brahn1in oligarchy that
in recent years they have formed an
association known as the 'Namasudra',
led by well-known persons like DR..
Nair. The Namasudra points out what
might happen by citing the Brahminic
pressure which occurs even in such
political activity already exists.
For example, in many elections the
voters by threatening TO 'out-caste' all
who should not vote the Brahmin
ticket, thus making them 'Pariahs'.-l
untouchables.-with no rights in
Hindu society" |
In the face of these complications,
Mr.. Stoddard considers that the Brit
ish have pursued a policy which may. |
on the whole, be called liberal. at |
least in intention. He discusses at |
length the Montasu-Chelmsfor Re-
port which recommended concessions
far beyond any which Great Britain
had hitherto made. It frankly en-
visased the gift of homo rule to India
as soon as possible" These recon-
mendations were embodied in law.
after over year of discussion. at the
close of 1919.
Unfortunately. however. as Mr..
Stoddard says. during the eighteen
months which elapsed between tho
publication OF the report and the bills
enactment the situation in India had
become much worse. Militant unrest
again raised its head. and India was
more disturbed than it had been since
1909" Mr.. Stoddard gives an inter
esting analysis of the causes of this
unrest which were. In brief: the hope
of stampeding the British Parliament
by terrorism into wider concessions
than the report contemplated: tho
distress resulting from terrible
famine; and an Afghan war. throwing
the northern border into tumult and
the Mohammedan element
The upshot of it was-an epidemic
OF riots, terrorism and seditious ac-
tivity." The government. alarmed.
passed a strong rcpresive bill known
to radical India as the BLACK Cobra"
bill. tho its less descriptive name was
merely "thc Rowlatt bill" Since
that time repression has been the
order of the day, the horrors cul-
In the Amritsar massacre for
which General Dyer was censured-
tho a certain element of tho British
public has since delighted to do him
honor. II
Yet. fortunately" Mr.. stoddard
neither Indian rcvolu-
tionaries nor British reactionaries
dominate the situation. On both sides
cool-headed leaders are keeping their
tempers and are striving toward sim
cere and open minded cooperation.
india is thus in full transition. It
is an anxious and a troubled time. .
The old order is passing. and the new
order is not yet fairly in sight. The
hour is big with possibilities OF both
good and evil. and no one can con-
fidently predict the outcome.
"One thing. however. Is clear: tho
days OF arbitrary British rule over
India are numbered. To plead tho
fairness honesty and efficiency of
that rule is to miss the whole point,
because India wants not merely good
but government, and {
the desire OF one-sixth OF the human
race cannot forever be denied"
II