The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1931. THE BRITISH IN INDIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1931. THE BRITISH IN INDIA.

-V recent publication from the pen oi tjir Francis Youughiisband, deals with the case of India, in which u good deal of light is thrown on the British purpose in that country and the aspirations of the people as manifested in the present restless times, 1 he work is entitled, “Dawn in India,” and as a reviewer points out, comparing the kindly, serious friendliness towards India of Sir Francis Youngbusband, as demonstrated in ‘‘Dawn ill India.” with the intolerant speeches that were made by some prominent British politicians, notably Mr Churchill. during I ho iveenl debate on India in til a. House of Commons, we feel that an attitude of greater humanity is reipiired in the dealings of Great Britain with the Indian peoples, and cannot but rejoice that present policy is in ibis direction Sir Francis Younghusband js, above all, a lover of India, and understands tlm nature of her people. Ho has had many intelligent, and noble-minded natives for his fiicmls. and he is interested in the religions as wed I as the a spi rations of the race. Throughout his hook is exhibited a tolerant spirit towards, and an -understanding of. the Indians which is till* result of close personal cominnilicaLion with them He was horn into a family tradition of romrndeshi p with Indians, and all lii.s experiences have broadened and strengthened the ideal ol treating the Indian people as proved companions in arms, who are to ho trusted and guided. One emumen t is particularly striking, as expressing a view that does not seem to have occurred to those who arc formulating Indian policy: The steps already taken and the further advances recorn mended are all in the direction of a democratic form of government. And they may not be what Indians themselves would most like or he what is most suited to their genius. They want to govern themselves. They want to be recognised as ‘‘equal” to the British, nr the Canadians, or the Australians. Hut: parliamentary assemblies, elections. and the whole paraphernalia of Western democracy may not lie to their taste. They may prefer an autocratic rule of the Indian type—still, maybe, under tbo British Crown—but with the administration of a character such ns may be seen in the Indian-governed part of India to-day. The recent and present trouble in India, Sir Francis Yoimghusbnnd considers, is due merely to the impatience of the Indians to get control of their destiny and the slow-moving deliberations of the British in bringing the promised end into view. The British, lie says, have made steady progress over n long number of years towards enabling the Indians to take over more and more of the government of their country, but. knowing the risks, prefer to go too slow rather than too fast—- “ And about that question of pace there will always be difference of opinion. For the moment it is the ‘unchanging East’ that is Rustling the West” He lias one rather startling declaraion to make. As in compiling this book he studied the history of the British connection with India lie became more and more convinced that the only thing necessary at the present moment was to assure the Indian people that, when they had eventually attained that responsible self-government which we have- declared to he the goal of our policy, we would also leave them the responsibility of deciding for themselves whether they would remain within the Empire or part from it. Tn my own mind I have not the slightest doubt which course they would take. But after tin* way in, which they stood by the Empire in the Great War I think it only honourable that wo should give them the chance of saving for themselves what they would wish. ‘•Dawn In India” is a well-written book, concluded the reviewer, and. smart from (he freshness ot some ol the author's views, gives a very informative survev of the whole history of British influence in India. Sir Francis Younghusband’s portraits of prominent Indian leaders are enlightening For instance, he considers Mr Gandhi’s actions often mistaken, but. does not think him dishonest, while he enables the reader to gain an under-

standing of tin* personalities ol such, men as Tagore, Suudar Singh. and ol hers.