[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR."]
SIR, I have read Dr. Nair's letter in your issue of the 10th inst. with no inconsiderable degree of amusement. This gentleman's hame was not known in India outside Madras, and he still com- plains of the so-called " muzzle" which has made him a celebrity in the British Empire and has secured for him a working part- nership with Lord Sydenham and company. Dr. Nair is a non- Brahmin, and professes to be the spokesman and representative of the non-Brahmins of Southern India, to whom he refers in terms of millions. He is careful not to say that these millions belong to a separate class, and that there is as much or as little between him and them as between the Brahmins and himself—possibly muck more or much less. One fails to see how he acts himself di spokesman for these millions any more than the Brahmin politi- cian. Dr. Nair forgets that in any system of franchise it is the Brahmins of Southern India who may require special representa- tion, for out of forty-two millions only about a million and half are Brahmins, and the vast majority of the•people owning lands or other property are non-Brahmins. It„requires but little fore- sight to see• that as soon as these non-Brahmin holders of pro- perty see that the• real voting strength is in their hands they will soon make- the Brahmin realize his position, as he has been made to do in other parts of India.
I do not understand Dr. Nair's grievance that he was " muzzled." I am no advocate or follower of any one party in India, but it is only justice and fair play that when the " Home Rulers•," whatever may be their political faith, are precluded from coming over to this country and putting their case before the British public—in fact, are sent back, coming all the way from India, with the permission of the Government as far as Gibraltar— the other side should not be placed in a position of unfair advan- tage. Dr. Nair is quite welcome to support Lord Sydenham as much as he likes, and he may wish to have the field all to himself, but that is not the rule of the game, and the British public will, I am sure, realize this.—I am,. Sir,. &c., ERFAN ALI.
7 New Square, Lincoln's Inn, W.C.
[We should have thought that the "Home Rulers" had had their ease stated with the utmost fullness by Mr. Montagu and his official circle. Most people have inferred that Dr. Nair was "muzzled" because he did not agree with Mr. Montagu.—ED. Spectator.]•
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