INDIA’S NEW ERA.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1921, Page 8

INDIA’S NEW ERA.

AN INAUGURAL CEREMONY./ By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Delhi, Feb. 1. The Duke of Connaught formally inaugurated the Bengal Hall, Calcutta, in the presence of the new Council. Big crowds lined the streets and cheered the Duke, whose speech outlined the heavy responsibilities conferred upon the new Council and the far-reaching changes which its inauguration portended. The Duke said he cherished great expectations regarding the era now dawning upon India, in which Indian members would be associated, with their European fellow citizens. The Governor of Bengal, in a speech, dwelt the changes involved under a reformed scheme. The number of voters, which was formerly 12,000, was now over a million. He appealed to the Bengalese and British members to work together in unity. Ghandi has sent a letter to the Duke of Connaught explaining his reasons for the boycott of his visit to Calcutta, which he says is meant as a demonstration against the system not against the Duke. The noii-co-operators were seeking to destroy the system which made the recent happenings under General Dyer possible and had resulted in a wanton affront to Islam. Ghandi adds: “The Duke of Connaught has come to India not to end, but to sustain the system,” and asks him and every Englishman to try to appreciate the non-co-operators’ viewpoint.— Reuter. / \