THE DOMICILED ENGLISHMAN IN INDIA. [To THE EDITOR O! THE
" SPECTATOR ."] SIR,—In the discussions that from time to time take place in the papers as to the state of affairs in India reference is often made to the British officials in India. They have friends and relations in England who are anxious that their position
should be better understood. But it is rare that anyone calls attention to the existence of the considerable number of Englishmen, many of them old soldiers, some of them settled down in the country, who cannot afford to send their children to England for education. In books about India a passing reference is sometimes made to them, in which they are said to be Eurasians or half-castes, and are supposed to live in slums. But Englishmen in India who cannot afford the con- siderable expense of sending their children to England for education do not necessarily become Eurasians or half-castes, and do not of necessity live in slums. I have recently cross- examined a considerable number of young Englishmen educated in India who have come home for further training both in workshops and universities. I have first asked them whether they have found people in England friendly, and they have replied, " Perfectly." I have then asked them whether they hays ever yet found anybody in England who is aware of the exist- ence of English boys educated in India, and they have replied, " Never." Their parents come from different classes of society. but the majority would belong to what corresponds to the skilled artisans, who in England are the strength of the Labour Party.
The Labour Party in England has by ceaseless agitation
become a power in the land, and now, with Income Tax at 65. in the £, men are beginning to wonder whether any means can be found of reducing the amount of labour unrest. I would venture to throw out the following suggestion: that England should now say to 'the British artisan in India : "In spite of the fact that you have not stirred up strikes, but have merely rendered useful and loyal service in a very trying climate and amid great political turmoil, we are still willing to become aware of your existence."
The chief need lies in the mattes of education. The majority
of boys have not received sufficient education to enable them to make their way in the world. They have received a smattering of education sufficient for subordinate poste under Government, and as subordinates they have been provided with plenty of amusements. Government seems to have considered chiefly their own interests, and not trained boys for the stern future that now awaits them. A lazy boy, if his parents can afford to send him to England, will return to India in the official grade and make his way automatically up the ladder, whilst a clever boy, if his parents are poor, will drop into the subordinate grade and remain there all his life. The lazy boy has had an easier time, and the hard-working boy a more difficult time, in India than in other parts of the Empire. There has been little of that genuine democracy that is to be found in the overseas Dominions. Some years ago I gathered together a number of boys, and told them that I should have to leave the lazy boys to the reform scheme, which would be able to deal with them more effectively than I should, but that I was anxious, if possible, to help those that were energetic. The Engineering College at Roorkee told me that if an English boy was to hold his own with Indians it was necessary for him to have had university training, most of the Indian students having already taken a science degree. The Forest College at Dehra Dun said the same thing.
From different sources came the information that if English boys are to have the slightest chance of holding their own with Indian students university training is necessary. An English hostel in connexion with Indian University Colleges is the policy laid down by Government. After three years' work I have raised rather over £3,000, but much more money is necessary before the hostel can be on a financially sound basis. A brief account of its possibilities for usefulness might bo of interest. There is at present considerable racial feeling in India. Argument is of little use. What is needed is more points of contact between Englishmen and Indians. There are many different kinds of Englishmen and many different kinds of Indians. English sportsmen may not have much in common with Indian philosophers, but English sportsmen will have common interests with Indian sportsmen, English philosophers with Indian philosophers, English business men with Indian business men, and English politicians with Indian politicians. Who are there to have points of contact with Indian students who are now at the most impressionable period of their lives, easily influenced in one direction or another, and who will play no small part in the future life of India? The answer is the English fellow-student. If during the last three years under- graduates from England had been planted down at the Punjab University, I think it is quite possible that there might have been a certain amount of misunderstanding with Indian students and possibly some rows. During all that time of much unrest, I have not had a single complaint with regard to any English hostel student, whilst Indian professors have told me that they have behaved like thorough young gentlemen and that they would like to have many more of them. That suggests possibilities for the future that I think few of our adminis- trators have yet begun to think of.—I am, Sir, &c., OSWALD YOUNGHITSBAND.
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