SLAVERY IN INDIAN STATES
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In his reply to my letter, Mr. Ramanujam has shifted his ground ; although, if he will allow me to say so, he is still rather unhappy in his choice of the authority upon which he bases his statements. The Indian Year Book is a useful compendium, drawn from many sources, of summarized information. It is not first-hand evidence.
I am not concerned to deny the existence, in British India as well as in certain Indian States, of diminishing survivals of bond service of an ancient feudal type. But this is not slavery, and has as a rule not a legal, but an economic sanction. I do not defend the practice ; but if Mr. Ramanujam attacks it in the Indian States he must also attack it (as the Whitley Commission have done, Report pp. 15, 362) in British India.
In my previous letter I was desirous of making the point, which I here repeat, that the Government of India, after meticulous enquiry, have satisfied themselves that slavery (as defined by the League of Nations) does not exist in the Indian States, Forced labour for public emergency exists both in British India and the Indian States; but that, too, has no legal sanction and is fortunately disappearing.—I am, Sir,
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