Snt,—It is odd how the die-hards all over the world
cling to faith and stubbornly refuse to accept changed conditions. This would sound funny if it did not have tragic consequences in pot: In a letter in your columns last week Mr. Meares writes thy still thinks that the Indian Congress is incapable of carrying on administration of India. This argument was quite frequently put when the Congress demanded Home Rule during the last war. the India Office has long since dropped it because it was found hollow. To remove any doubt on this point may I beg the hasp: of your columns to point out that the Congressmen did for over years govern roughly three-fifths of British India? During that P they were given credit for their efficient administration, not only their friends but also by the Governors of the various Provinces.
The problem of India, as I see it, is not so much as to who govt the country but as to whether the government of the day has really I interest of the people at heart. There is untold misery poverty in India. The Indians would like to see serious attern made to eradicate them. They too would like to live like h beings. The eighty odd years' record of the present administra shows that they are unwilling or unable to cope with the problem. The progress that India has made within four decades countries have made in less than one. In England one would not tolerate such a government for a day.
Indians are convinced that only a government which has the support of the masses can carry on the far-reaching policies that are needed in India. And the Congress is the only body today that has this support. The argument for a change in peace time administration applies doubly hi the event of war. A National Government is the only government capable of using to the full the vast resources of India. And Heaven knows that it is time " we went to it " lest it might be too late. Is it too much to hope that the obstructionists of Indian independence will bear this in mind? Your correspondent suggests that the adminis- tration of India should be transferred to a Federation of Princes to rule the country under the British Government. Are the Indian Princes regarded as ideal administrators? And by the way are we fighting this war against Hitlerism or for it?—Yours sincerely, 57 Primrose Gardens, London N.W. 3. ANAND M. GUPTA.
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