Indians and the Temples
Nothing is more embarrassing to the British Govern- ment in India than to get itself mixed up in purely Indian affairs, involving possible interference with historic religious or social usages. The necessity for intervening in the affairs of a native State crops up from time to time, as it is doing at the moment in connexion with the rising in- Alwar. Fortunately the arrival of British troops seems to have damped the trouble down, and the troops will no doubt soon be withdrawn. The question of legislation to permit of the opening of the temples to. Untouchables is much more difficult. A Bill to achieve that has been drafted at Madras, and the permission of the Governor, with the Viceroy behind him, is necessary for its introduction. Another Bill at the centre is pending. If left to the vote of the Indian members of the Legislature, the measure will undoubtedly be carried by a large majority against a minority of Caste Hindus, who are, however, urging the Government to kill the Bill at birth. The only ground for that would be solicitude for the rights of minorities, but minorities in this case can only be deferred to at the cost Of injustice to the majority. In the case of the Sarda Act (raising the age of marriage), and another measure directed against temple prostitution, Indian deputies were allowed to settle the matter for themselves. That is clearly the right course to take in the case of the opening of the temples.
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