OCCASIONAL NOTE

Sir Rabindranath Tagore can very well afford to discard such a cheap method of attracting attention as that of gibing at work done by other people. He commands the hearing of Bengali and British audiences alike, and no man has a better opportunity of inculcating well-reasoned views and habits of thought. In his lecture on Friday evening he dealt with the subject of Indian education, and drew the lofty ideal which one might expect from him. It is disappointing, however, that he had not a more generous need of recognition for British education. Nobody pretends that our educational system in India is perfect or complete, but we might have looked to Sir Rabindranath Tagore for a fair appreciation of what it has done and hopes to do. After all, where would India be without it? Where, for that matter, would Sir Rabindranath Tagore himself be without it? And, while the development of Indian culture is an object of the very highest interest, practical men are obliged to remember that the primary object of education for the majority of students is to enable them to earn their living. It is deplorable that the higher culture should be thus embarrassed, but the prosaic facts of life have to be reckoned with, and that is why the existing type of education, for which Sir Rabindranath had hardly a good word to say, is a necessity.

THE WADIA CHARITIES

BOMBAY, MAR 22

The trustees of the N.M. Wadia charities celebrated Founder’s Day on Friday evening. Sir George and Lady Lloyd were present at the function. During the last year from proceeds of the fund a sum of Rs 3,40,000 was distributed for various charitable purposes. The largest contribution was under the head of education and amounted to over pound 1,10,000, while Rs 82,000 were spent in the relief of poverty and distress. The Governor congratulated the trustees and expressed his admiration at the able and painstaking manner in which the trust had been administered. In concluding his remarks His Excellency, addressing the boys and girls of the various schools of Bombay and the young men and women present, asked them to remember the Founder’s Day and always act in the spirit of the late Mr. Wadia. Whether our country be founded in the Indian ocean or in the sea of Australasia, or in the colder north, we are one people one Empire, and have one flag.

ARMS ACT

DELHI, MAR 22

For many years past the administration of the Indian Arms Act has been the subject of adverse criticism, mainly because European and East Indian subjects are exempted from the obligation to take out licences for the possession of firearms, while Indians outside certain privileged classes have to apply for licences and, even if successful in their applications, can in most cases obtain them only after enquiries as to their status and character. The Government of India have for some time past been anxious to remove this racial discrimination and to minimise the delays and inconvenience which necessarily attend the present system of administering the law, and they have had prolonged correspondence with local Governments on the details of this intricate and difficult subject. Some critics of the existing system demand the repeal of the Act, or, in the alternative, its administration on a purely fiscal basis whereby any one desiring a licence could secure it without question on payment of the prescribed fee.

DEPRESSED CLASSES

BANGALORE, MAR 22

Advantage was taken of a religious festival at the Melkote temple to hold a conference of the depressed classes last week. The conference was attended by large numbers of Panchamas. Resolutions were adopted expressing thanks to Their Highness the Maharajah and Yuvaraj for their recent decision to admit the depressed classes to all Government schools, requesting the Government to enquire into the restrictions that are being imposed regarding their admission to certain temples to which formerly they were admitted, and urging their representation in all assemblies of the State, including local and municipal bodies.

MADRAS TRAMWAYMEN’S STRIKE

MADRAS, MAR 22

Mr. Gandhi, whose advice was sought by tramwaymen who are on strike, said that he had not gone deeply into the question of their grievances and he did not know the Company’s side. He could not, therefore, say whether their demands were just. For a good and successful strike the cause should be good and just, and strikers should never resort to violence. They should stick to the truth and in going through with the strike must be prepared to suffer privations