SITUATION IN INDIA

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1930, Page 6

SITUATION IN INDIA

SELF-GOVERNMENT POSSIBLE NATIVE SUPPORTER CONVINCED. 7 . Belief in the fitftess of India to govern herself, in her ability to undertake the responsibilities of home rule, is almost part of the creed of Bishop G. S. Arum dale, of the Liberal Catholic Church, who, with his wife a high-caste Hindu lady, arrived in Auckland by the Niagara. The bishop has been 25 years in India, and he declared that if Britain. did not do something definite soon and make concessions to the home rulers there would be revolution. Bishop Arundale has for some time been organising secretary of the home rule movement in India. Interested in educational systems and the fashion in which the viewpoint of the individual finds expression in the stand.taken by the nation, he is visiting different coun tries to discover their national opinion. That is why he has come, to New Zealand. NATIONAL EDUCATION SYSTEM-. “India’s people are not uneducated or uncultured,” said Bishop Aruri'dale..' engaged in building up a national system of education a system which would be fitted. to . the! wants' ofbthe. native'. “When you educate your children you dp not teach them according- to the Ger man .'fashion 1 ,” he said, .“'and we are. evolving a. method of instruction which will be entirely suited to the native.” Not merely the upper castes, but the peasants as well had for centuries been steeped in an atmosphere of high culture and of a great philosophy. There was only wanting the correct means of approach to the stores of the knowledge and the native would intuitively respond, i The underlying desire of his teachers was to perpare the people for the idea of self-government. HOME RULE WITHIN EMPIRE.

- j The ideal striven for, the bishop.; said was one of home rule within; fthe' ; Empire. lie ’ condemned those wlio.advocated absolute independence, from Great; Britain. He would' delegate to the Imperial Government the management of foreign affairs and military control. !■., ...Much- was made.of-.the differences which existed, first between the castes and again between the Efindu and the Mohammedan people. Both were grossly exaggerated, he thought, and the . reports which appeared of the clashs between the two races were incorrect. The troubles were not basic. They were both being overcome- The old notion of the inviolateness of caste was rapidly, disappearing., ; Another impetus given to the movement was the active part the women of India' were taking in it. To those v r ho knew India that was a portent plain to be read; ‘ The women represented the heart of the land. They embodied the ancient grandeur of India. They were looked ,up to and respected, and where they led the men followed. Many important positions in public life were filled to-day by women. Thein influence was great/ and it was growing.

In spite of the high; regard in which he, as more than an acquaintance held Mahatma -Gandhi said Bisjwp, ArundjxJe -he feared the influence’’which he had over the masses and the direction it might taken in its expression. ‘Gandhi,’ he said, “is a fanatic, and sincere—utterly sincere—but a dreamer. He is out of touch with the political situation. lie is a saint, but it is almost dangerous to be saintly these days. With' a dreamer at the helm and 70,000,000 men daily without a good meal, the situation has possibilities.” Of Annie Besant he spoke with admiration. Her work among the natives he considered wonderful; but she, too, was out of favour with Gaqdhi because she would neither V couiitepancq our counsel' force.; DANGER OF REVOLUTION.

“A great work, but superimposed,” was the-- way he described the daily routine of the India Civil Service. It was again a question of an Indian education and Indian administration in an Indian way; and the service could give none of these things. They were, lie admitted, a great body, and in their lights carried on a fine tradition, but the time was at hand, for them to yield the task to other hands. If Great Britain did not do something definite soon if the concessions towards home rule were not made, there would be revolution in India. There was no damning the flood. In the solution of the Indian question there was i bound up the stability of the British Empire. He did not think the natives disloyal “Give them what they demand” he said “and there will be peace.” Loyalty to the Emperor of India had become a custom, as other things were a custom, and and it would not change. The native ordinarily was a quiet individual, trouble-avoiding.

Bishop Arundale said he had read the report of the Simon Commission, and he with the natives, did not agree with the findings. What was advocated, he considered, was the replacement of one form of Government imposed from with out by another. The natives wanted the third alternative. Britain ultimately must advance to meet the people of India. She had done much in one way, but that, was not. enough.