THE FRANCHISE IN INDIA
Sta,—Lord Wavell's persistent effort to normalise India's political life deserves commendation from all quarters eager to see India happy, pros- perous and free. It would be, however, wrong to forget to point out that the emphasis by the Viceroy is rather misplaced. It is disheartening to note that you also seem to share his apparent belief that the contem- plated elections invite "All India . . . for a resumption of full political life." You will admit that the franchise in India is limited. If only its precise scope were revealed in your relevant comment your view that the elections " will bring democratic machinery once more into action" would need surer grounds to stand upon. You are, let me assume, not unaware what really this limited franchise means. In the case of the Central Legislature, which is still the part of the Government of India Act, 1919, only about 3 per cent, of the adult population is entitled to vote. The franchise to the Provincial Legislatures covers slightly more than 13 per cent.. of the adult population. By democracy ordinarily we mean a political dispensation in which every adult and able-minded per- son participates. The Indian franchise such as it is to-day is a cruel mockery of the universally recognised concept of political democracy. The whole thing is invested, I am afraid, with lurid light by British hesitation to extend the franchise on one ground or another, when I understand this can be done without a constitutional change as such and without involving any considerable delay.
Even the limited objection of resolving the present deadlock, i.e., bring- ing about a settlement between the Congress and the Muslini League, may continue to be as elusive as the " warm weather wasp," to quote the late Chesterton. The present limited franchise guarantees almost certainty the continuation of the status quo in so far as these two political parties are concerned. Simla has shown that the irreconcilables cannot be reconciled. Why not, therefore, give the people a chance.? Accident of high birth and property which is the basis of the existing franchise should be no disquali- fication for them to deny them the exercise of elementary democratic
right.—Yours, &c., C. RAM SINGH. The Radical Democratic Party of India, ao Fleet Street, London, E.C. q.
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