DECENTRALIZATION IN INDIA.
[To THE EDITOR or THE ..SPECTA1011."1
Sts.—May I point out one omission, obvious to any one who has taken even a minor part in Indian administration. in your admi- rable comments on Lord Islingtosie scheme and 31r. Gokhaltee political testament ? I mean the continued existence of the -District and the District Officer. The latter has of late year been robbed of much of his prestige and authority. But the District still exists, and few over here understand what a com- plete piece of practical decentralization it is. In the first place, it is by no means despicable in the matter of area and population. There are Districts. stick as Mymensing, that have a population or five millions, and others that are 19.000 square miles in area— about the size of Belgium. Each (there are 81,011I. 250 of them in all) has its capital town, with Law Courts, civil and criminal. Each prepares it own annual Budget, each possesses its own separate Treasury. In each is a District Board, corresponding to our County Councils over here. In each is a Record Mee. con- taining invaluable documents, in many cases of considerable
antiquity. Some Districts, in spite of the centripetal ten:Ivey or modern administration, have laws and customs or their eel.. Any one who knows India will tell you that the sentiment or District patriotism is strong and spontenee., a living soviet slid palitical force too often overlooked. Dist rift heroes (including. in some cases, British Jiadges and Magistrate.). District bards and poets. District notabilities; of many kind., unknown in the costa. politan capitals visited by travellers, are held in high local honour. It is the neglect of the District as a unit, of adinioistra. Hon that has brought about the centralization against which Mr. Gokhale and Lord Islington alike have desired to roast. Perhaoe the District is obsolete. It is curio.. sievertheless. that mention has been made of a Mgt lhan mesh Not sides and an essential feature of bolls Moglial and British adinioietes- tion in India.
May I also note. in Passing, that vague. abstract words ..11 as decentralization are curiously lacking in Indian languages. which abound in practical concrete terms? One of the drawbacks of the Latinized English popular in educated belie is precisely the loss use of such general expressions. `Alien rule," for instance. sounds very impressive, till we remember that all administralien has been " alien rule" in. m.1 parts of India since the beginning of history. That is one of many reasons why it is to be regretted that the administration tends to be carried on more sod more is English. If District Officers had retained their old mastery of the local languages and had insisted ou their use in Court, they might have defied the centripetal encroachments of lire Seer,. teriats. There are. perhaps, a few District Officers still who really govern their Dist riots. If so. they are not the worst 5r.vPrI1,1 park of British I intia.—I am. Sir, de., J. D. A.
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