INDIA'S AWAKENING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 190, 7 May 1919, Page 8

INDIA'S AWAKENING

Sir,—Mighty, lioary ridin has learned from Britain the. lesson of liberty, and the English language 'has inado tho ideal of nationality a potent forco in politics. The Hon. E. S. Montagu, who recently toured India to feel the pulse of a virile people, lias given evidenco of his faith by appointing Sir S. P. Siiilia as Under-Secretary for India. This is undoubtedly a "breach in ths colour bar," and is evidence of Britain's recognition of the Hindu's capacity and place, as well as an earnest of self-govern, ins enactments. • * The German kultur plan of domination has been defeated, and the inevitable result is that the tie of language and specific interests are felt to be ample reasons for freedom to work out the selfdirected destiny of each natural association of people. . It is the expression in a political sense of tho freely-accepted idea of to-day that, in real education the aim must be to give ev'orv opportunity to the indiivdnal to develop naturally, and not as heretofore under the stultifying formality of a general mould. Unfortunately there are still in existence in liigh places those who need to be reminded that even thoiwh a nooolo may

lence it is psychologically as well politically true that it' is no substituM 'or self-government. In this connection Lord' Macaulay's words are apt and up ;o,date. Ho says: "Many politicians are in the habit ,of laying it down as a eelfsvidwit proposition that no people ought ;o he l'reo till they are fit to use their 'reedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story who resolved not :o go into the water till he had learnt to swim. If men are to wait for liberty iill they become wise and good in slavery ;hey may indeed wait for ever." The Indian National Congress which ins declared itself with no uncertain iound now has its counterpart in tho lirtli of the first Jndian Conference in Britain. And it is significant that those ittending were drawn from college and lierchant sources, and the papers lead vere of a high order. The subjects dealt vith include: "Tho Economic Developnent of India," "Co-operative Credit Societies in the Bombay Presidency," 'Municipal Sanitation and Hygiene," 'Socialism and Its Fearing on India." 'India and the League of Nations," "Tho Mediuip'of Education in India," "The ilontagu-Chelmsford Reforms." These srlainly indicate a breadth of view and vise statesmanship, and augur well for ;he future of a reawakened great people. My immediate purpose is to point out ;liat India should liave a franker end ! uller recognition generally, ana that nore of her great capacity and resource 3 ihould bo known and practically recoglised. A continent-country of over three luudred millions,' a large proportion of ivliom nre capable of and longing for nigh education, cannot be relegated to in insignificant place either' in the world >r the British Empire—l am, etc., DAVID W. MILLER.