Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-03-16

SNAANFN as NAAS EAtLfNAN@S
st. Thomas came here to 81
and first in unemployment
Q.600.000 out of a population
Of $4,000. 000). Most important.
1t is also the first Indian state
to have elected q Communist
government.
Whether or not It will be the
last to do SO depends upon
number of factors: the kind Of
record the Communists. make
while they are in ofiice; the ex-
tent to which the democratic
parties face up to the Commune
mist internal political threat.
and the ability Of the national
government to satisfy the ex-
pectations Of midas 100000
900 people during the next few
Take Lead From Moscow
Kerala's Communists were
voted into power in 1857 with
IS per cent Of the vote against
a divided and inept opposition.
People were fed up with sue
cession of do-nothing or alleg-
edly corrupt administrations
and dissatisfied because land
reform had not been carried
out. Many decided the Commu-
nists should be given a chance
to deliver on their promises to
get things done better and
differently.
So I came down here both to-
see now they are doing and to-
learn whether they are any diff
ferent from the Communists I
knew in Europe and the Soviet
Union.
It is Immediately obvious that
they are the same breed, taking
their lead from Moscow. At
first they tried rough tactics,
intimidating their opponents
and calling a political strike
against the tea planters. Since
this almost led to intervention
by the central government
which is authorized by the con-
stitution to safeguard civil lib
erties-they have lately been
behaving more carefully. To-
day Kerala's press is ireland
rs per cent anti Communist;
the judges on the high court
to whom anyone may appeal
are appointed from New Delhi.
But it is clear that the Commu-
nists are only hiding their time.
Interview Is Revealing
This emerged in the course of
q revealing talk I had with the
Communist chief minister.
EN- s. Namboodiripad. He had
just returned from Moscow,
where he was an important
member of the Indian delega-
ton to the 21st Party Congress.
Qn China. ! am told. they al.
ready talk Of the two India s"
-Nehru's and Namboodiri-
PADS. I found him affable but
evasive. Each time I asked him
why midas Communists did
not press harder for a Soviet
pattern of society--such as
ChineSe-style communes - he
.wo'd reply. mot yet Oh mot
under the present circum-
stances"
Finally I suggested that In
dia's democratic constitution
might be an obstacle. He agreed.
So I pressed him-would In
oa's Communists change the
constitution and transform In
dia into a true. tough peoples
democracy" if they ever got the
chance? Mr.. Namboodiripad
smiled broadly. Look at it this
way" he said. IF a Hindu be-
lieves he will be reincarnated in
his next life as a dog-does that
mean he should start barking
now?"
Karala'S Communists are not
barking yet but they are busy
digging in. supporting the Com
nunisC labor unions, building a
network of party workers that
already reaches into most Of
Karala's 10000 villages. Unable
SO far to fulfill their campaign
promiseS-such as a Is per cent
wage increase - they hope to
win a decisive majority in the
1862 elections by means Of q
disciplined organization able to
dispense patronage and favors.
old-fashioned Tammany style,
where they will do the most
good.
Efficiency Myth Exploded
What are their chances of
holding Kerala and perhaps
winning control of some other
States? / think there are
grounds for concern. It's true
that the myth of Communist
efficiency has been exploded
here. Kerala's chronic food
shortage and unemployment
problems rem a in unsolved.
Many people are disillusioned.
University students. plantation
workers and educators all have
grievances against the admin
istration-the latter because OF
a new law giving the State
greater control over private
schools. Even Mr.. Namboodiri-
pad admitted to me that "po-
litical stability" was his gov
ernment'S principal achieve
ment.
Nevertheless. I think 1t