YESTERDAY AND TO-MORROW IN INDIA

New Zealand Listener, Volume 20, Issue 500, 21 January 1949, Page 12

YESTERDAY AND TO-MORROW IN INDIA

THE NEW IDEA. By Sir Atul Chandra Chatterjee, G.C.1.E., K.C.S.1. George Allen and Unwin Ltd., London. Y achieving freedom in 1947, India did not solve her problems; she transferred them wholly to her own shoulders. She is now mistress in her own house, though it is divided between two families. India has to decide whether or not those families are to live at peace, and her two governments have to tackie a host of problems, the basic ones of which may be described as terrifying. This little book, written by an Indian who was educated partly in England, became a.member of the Viceroy’s Cabinet, and represented India abroad, is an admirable short introduction to the study of the Indian scene, with all its divisions of race, language, religion and the social and economic conditions that press for action. Sir Atul Chatterjee has managed to compréss into fewer than two hundred pages a history of India from the earliest times to the passing of the British Raj in 1947, and a consideration of India’s needs. This is a scrupulously objective review. The author is fair to the British, and not at all blind to the shortcomings of his countrymen. Poverty, population, production, education, defence may be said be the main problems, and. underlying them are age-old beliefs and customs which clash with modern ideas. Population and production are the most urgent. To-day India does not produce enough food. Under-nourishment is common, But the population is rising, and the (continued on next page)

(continued from previous page) author thinks there is little chance in the near future of food production keeping pace with it. Expectation of life at birth is only 27 years, compared with 59 in Britain and the United States. "Positive checks" on population, such as famine and pestilence (the influenza epidemic of 1918-19 killed eighteen million people), have operated less strongly of recent years. The population rose from 280 millions to 389 millions in 50 years and before long it may exceed 500 millions. How are all these peeple to be fed and given a general higher standard of, living? Sir Atul Chatterjee sees the difficulties clearly. It is recognised in India, he says, that there is little to be expected from large-scale emigration as a remedy. ‘The problem is not one that affects India alone. It is a matter of vital (continued on next page)

BOOK REVIEWS (continued from previous page) interest to the whole world. India needs sympathy and understanding and practical help, and she should be encouraged to look for these primarily among the nations of the Commonwealth.

A.

M.