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100 Years Ago | 26 April 1919

On this day a century ago, these were some of the news items The Statesman readers got to read about India and the world.

100 Years Ago | 26 April 1919

OCCASIONAL NOTE

Popular rumour has proved accurate and Bishop Foss Westcott of Chota Nagpur succeeds the late Dr. Lefroy as Bishop of Calcutta and Metropolitan of India. Everyone will agree that Mr. Balfour has exercised his difficult choice wisely. Like his brother, the Bishop of Lucknow, the new Metropolitan came to India not to find a career but in response to an inward call. Both spent long terms in the mission field at Cawnpore and both have identified themselves with India and its problems as definitely and finally as did Dr. Lefroy when he settled at Lahore. As the history of the Calcutta diocese shows, churchmen of this type are far better adapted to supply the needs of the vast ecclesiastical charge associated with the metropolitan see in India than are brilliant preachers or schoolmasters sent out from Home. The new Bishop is familiar with the missionary problem in India, he knows the needs of the “domiciled” community in this country, and he is a broad and liberal-minded churchman who should make the maximum appeal to what by some of the incumbents of the see has been regarded as the most difficult and intractable portion of their charge – the European community in the metropolitan city. Bishop Westcott comes to Calcutta at a critical moment in India’s development. Everyone will wish that his influence, as exercised primarily in the spiritual sphere, may be a strong, useful and ennobling one in everything that matters for the country’s advancement.

EXPORT OF OILSEEDS

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At today’s meeting of the Legislative Council the Hon. Rao Bahadur T. Rangachariar moved a resolution urging the Government to recommend the Government of India to take early steps to control the export of oilseeds from this presidency. The speaker said that in view of the industrial reorganisation promised to this country the ground nut crop was a very important one. He would urge that a large export duty should be placed on the export of oilseeds if total prohibition was found impracticable. The matter was of urgent importance for the present and of vital importance for the future. The neglect on the part of the Government to take action in the matter of industrial development embittered the feelings of the people, who considered that the Government were sacrificing the country’s interest for the benefit of foreigners.

MARTIAL LAW PUNISHMENTS

A gross exaggerations are prevalent regarding the punishment imposed under the operations of Martial Law, the following facts are published for information. In the Lahore Civil Station area, which includes the city, the civil station and Mughalpura, 28 persons in all have been dealt with by courts-martial since Martial Law was introduced. Of these two were remanded for further inquiry, five discharged and one found insane and sent to an asylum. Of the remainder, twelve were sentenced to flogging, two receiving sentences of imprisonment, and one a sentence of a fine. In addition, eight were sentenced to fines. The men who were flogged were all, with the exception of one, petty shopkeepers of the menial or servant class. In five cases the charge was that of tearing down notices and in seven that of being out after hours.

HINDU PRIESTS DILEMMA

The path of the large number of Hindus now in this country is beset with many difficulties. One who had spread his resai under the famous Adelphi Arches this week was terribly bewildered to find himself in custody as having no ostensible means of subsistence. When he explained through an interpreter that he was a “holy man” and had no intention to offend against the Raj, a kindly superintendent handed him over to the care of members of the East Indian Society. At Liverpool, Jaypal Sheorat, another Hindu priest, was charged with fraud. It was stated that he entered a café, had a good meal and refused to pay, saying that he was accustomed to having food given him in India. He stated that he left India to see the world. The man was remanded to see if any persons interested in the Hindu faith would come forward to help him. INDIA-BURMA AERIAL MAIL ROUTE There seems to be some ambiguity or indecision on the part of the Air Force people as to route from west to east India. In all recent telegrams from Burma and elsewhere concerning General Borton’s movements. “The Bombay-Calcutta-Burma route” is spoken of, and Karachi is apparently left out in the cold. We should like some definite pronouncement as to whether or not “Bombay-Calcutta-Burma” really means “Karachi-Delhi-Calcutta-Burma.” At all events it is certain that an extensive flying ground is to be established at Karachi at an early date.

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