INDIA’S PROBLEM?
REPRESENTATION OF CASTES. I • __ QUESTION OF “UNTOUCH ABILITY,.” Although the Hindu-Moslem problem presents the greatest difficulty in the attempt to hold' the balance between conflicting claims. in the constitutional development of India, for the -’.aH few weeks it has been of subsidiary importance compared with, the representation proposed for the depressed classes. Mr Gandhi’s fasting threat hag evidently resulted in a settlement whereby this lowest' of. all castes ■is to have its representation in Provincial Legislatures increased from seventy-one, ae was originally proposed, to 150, and, a«sumedly, is to: be a part of the Hindu constituency. ’ The “untouchables’’ com prise some 30 . per cent, of the Hindu population, .aild even with the additional repi4sbntatloii now. suggested, a comparison with tbe 705 seats assigned to Hindus of higher castes, emphases their subordinate position. At 'the Pound Tabl e Conference their representative claimed that they should have the right to elect members to the Provincial and Central Legislatures through separate electorates, evidently feeling that their position would be politically insecure under any system weighted by an overwhelming Hindu majority. But with 150 seats these depressed classes will be able to force attention to their social and economic disabilities, and while the prospects of amelioration of their intolerable position are not to be expected immediately, modern changes in India, other thari political, are working in their favour. Their refusal to throw in their, lot with the general Hindu community has now compelled orthodox Hinduism to consider their unfortunate position. There (has been, moreover, a growing recognition by enlightened leaders o Indian opinion that social barrierform a serious obstacle to the growth of nationalism, and 'as far back ar 1920 Mr Gandhi placed the removal of "untouchability” in the forefront of hi? pibgramme, while some of 'his followers have gone so far as to a-dvocatf the total abolition of the caste system Satisfactory as is tbe settlement tu" has been arrived-at between th e Hindu, ■and Mr Gandhi, it is only a partia solution of a much greater problem but it may be the means of promotinga new attitude of mind and of modify ing the more serious communal anta gonisms.
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Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1932, Page 7
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359INDIA’S PROBLEM? Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1932, Page 7
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