India's Leader

New Zealand Listener, Volume 32, Issue 808, 21 January 1955, Page 10

India's Leader

GAINST the eulogies of H, N. Brailsford in his 3YC talk on Nehru we have to balance the criticism of his Socialist sister, Mrs. Hutheesing, who considers he is developing the traits of a dictator; inability to tolerate minorities and to take advice. Nehru himself, jaccording to earlier statements, was aware of the danger of the adulation he received. As a spoilt only son he has in his personal life always been somewhat dictatorial, not hesitating to tell relaxing guests at his home to be "up and doing." Magnified a little, this would seem dangerous to a politically opposed sister. Gandhi, too, may have provided the necessary contemplative centre to all this activity. H. N. Brailsford notes that Nehru is an inspiring leader rather than a good planner, thus excusing his failure to reform the abuses of land tenure very rapidly, Where, therefore, Nehru considers the Socialists irresponsible, they in turn’ probably consider that anything which does not overtake starvation is too slow, yet one might have to be a real dictator to move any quicker in the "Liberal democracy" which the High Commissioner for India described India as in a talk (3YA). There will be thousands throughout the world who hope, for more than political reasons, that Nehru will remain the wisest leader India could have chosen.