The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, NOV. 18, 1946 INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN INDEPENDENCE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 52, 20 November 1946, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, NOV. 18, 1946 INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN INDEPENDENCE

IF the latest outbreak of violence at Calcutta is to be taken as a sample of Indian independence, a long period of tragedy lies before that much troubled country. With British troops standing by Hindus and Moselms indulged in an orgy of bloodshed and sabotage in which'2ooo were killed and 4000 injured and widespread damage was caused to property. This was the opening day of the Moslems “direct action” campaign, and an exceedingly inauspicious introduction to Indian self-government. Indian leaders have displayed an extraordinary appreciation of leadership. They deplore violence at every opportunity and yet they continue to organise campaigns which almost invariably lead to shocking disturbances. If these conditions obtain under the restraining influence, of the British, what will be the experience of India when the hostile sections of the nation are free to indulge their caste hatreds? Britain is taking a heavy responsibility in vacating the office of referee, but the onus must fall upon India's own leaders, who have employed every possible device to force the British out. The All-India Congress is now proceeding with the formation of an interim Government which is nominally open to the Moslems to participate, but of course the Moslems refuse to co-operate. Thus it seems India will enter upon its dependent existence with a government from which 90,000,000 Moslems dissent. In the light of years of experience, what prospect is there of peace in India in foreseeable time? Before the scheme has even been launched there has been an appalling battle in Calcutta. Order in this instance will no doubt be restored by the military, but how can it be maintained? The Hindu majority of three to one against the Moslems 'might seem sufficient to warrant a majority government. Possibly in most countries it would be so, but India is a very different matter. The intense religious fanaticism keeps feeling at fever heat, and back over the years has been responsible for constantly recuring clashes. Britain brought a long period of comparative peace during which India has made much progress. But the surge of national feeling, on the part of both Hindus and Moslems, has apparently brought an end to British control and thrown India wide open to the expression of all the old antagonisms. There is no reason to suppose that leaders such as Nehru, Jinnah and Gandhi are anything but sincere patriots whose aim is to secure the independence and full nationhood of their own country. But in British eyes at least they adopt extraordinary methods in approaching their objective. And they apparently have not the power to restrain the mob when passions flare suddenly among the country’s teeming millions. The future of India can be viewed only with misgiving. Eventually the United Nations may find it necessary to decide whether Indian troubles may not constitute a threat to the peace of the world.