‘Deep Understanding Of Her People’

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30978, 7 February 1966, Page 2

‘Deep Understanding Of Her People’

India’s new Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi, had a great depth of understanding of her people and would continue the policies started by her father, Mr Nehru, and Gandhi, according to Mrs Vera Beggs of Washington, who is visiting Christchurch.

Mrs Beggs spent an hour with Mrs Gandhi when she was in India a few weeks ago when Mrs Gandhi was still Minister for Public Information and Broadcasting.

Mrs Gandhi had the respect and support of her people, said Mrs Beggs. She could not say what kind of image Mrs Gandhi would project. “Mr Nehru projected a father image, Mr Shastri associated himself with the people and was a big brother in the best sense. I do not know about Mrs Gandhi. It is too soon to say. But I do think she is a wonderful person.” Mrs Beggs had a deep interest in India which she considers the most important country in the world for the West to understand. “India is the largest democracy in Asia- and she is struggling to work out her overwhelming problems in a democratic way. “If she succeeds, the world will be safer,” said Mrs Beggs. India was able to produce the leaders she needed at the time they were needed. Indians in the United States were annoyed when they were asked what would happen af-

ter Nehru, said Mrs Beggs. India produced Mr Shastri and now Mrs Gandhi when they were needed.

Mrs Beggs says India should draw attention to the progress she has made and will continue to make. Scheme Resisted

On a previous visit to India six years ago, Mrs Beggs found resistance to the Government’s family planning scheme to decrease the population.

“The people thought that natural processes were being tampered with. Now they are thoroughly aware of the need for smaller families,” she said.

Mrs Beggs pointed out that family life was very closely knit, with the mothers-in-law having the last word in family discipline and determination.

When the family planning first started, the wives came along first, then they brought their husbands, and a few weeks later came along with their mothers-in-law so that they could understand and give their approval. Mrs Beggs is convinced that India is a country with great possiblities and said that India's industrial progress over recent years was remarkable.

Mrs Beggs’s main interest is the field of international relationships and she spends a great deal of her time on committees working for better international relationships and lecturing on this subject in the United States.

She is a member of the Speakers Research Bureau for the United Nations, a fellow of the American Association of International Law, a member of the National Council of the Farm and Garden Association and has represented this organisation at the Associated Country Women of the World conference in Dublin last year, as well as being the chairman of international relations for its Washington division. Mrs Beggs is a committee chairman for the American Newspaper Women’s Club, and is on the board of directors of the English Speaking Union and of the SpanishPortuguese Study Group of Washington.

Mrs Beggs is concerned with better international relations so that she can contribute to the establishment of sounder public opinion of other countries in the United States. “I do not think democracy can function without informed public opinion based on facts,” she said.