Fiji's India

India's High Commissioner in

Australia Makes Flying Visit

and Many Statements

Suva, May 20.

FIJI was hurriedly looked over in April by India’s High Commissioner in Australia, Sir Raghunath Paran jpye, sometime Senior Wrangler at Cam bridge, and high public official in Bombay.

He came, as he said on his arrival, “to get a first-hand knowledge of Fiji so that he would be able to advise on matters affecting Indians here.” Sir Raghunath and his daughter spent a fortnight in the Colony.

It is sad that a gentleman of such great academic attainments has yet to learn that a first-hand knowledge of a community so diverse as ours, even if we only total a quarter of a million and occupy such little space, cannot possibly be gained on a flying visit.

Sir Raghunath’s several unsound and unfelicitous statements attracted con siderable criticism from the Europeans.

Also, his reported speeches, coinciding with the most momentous political events in Mother India itself, caused the com munity status of our Indian population, and their political activities, to be freely discussed.

Two of the High Commissioner's obser vations in particular caused wide com ment. In addressing a gathering at Siga toka shortly after his arrival, he said: “Do not think that India is neglecting your needs? Public men there are con cerned at present with their own urgent affairs, but if they gain their aims I think that many of your difficulties will be adjusted without very much trouble.” At a Suva reception he told his Indian audience that they should not allow themselves to entertain any feelings of superiority either consciously or uncon sciously towards the Fijians!

Yet, on the other hand, he gave the Indians some sound advice; the best of which was that they should co-operate fully in order to develop civic spirit.

THE change which is certain to be effected soon in India’s constitu tional position will cause consider able shifting in the political scene here.

The great pressure which the India Office in London has been able to bring on the British Government will be lifted.

That will clip the wings of local Indian politicians considerably. Then Indians, especially local born, will have to identify themselves much more closely with the local community, and not continue to regard themselves as friendly aliens, taking what pleases them, yet never yielding, or showing any willingness to make concessions, or to co-operate, for the common good.

The attitude of the local Indian popu lation is hard to define. There are many fine and likeable Indians here, in many walks of life; yet, with the bulk of them, and particularly their leaders, one never feels that they have the least interest in the general welfare of the whole com munity or the faintest awareness of, or pride in, the fact that they are fellow members, with us, of the Empire.

Perhaps the best proof of the fore going was their wretchedly poor war ef fort.

It seems obvious that of our local Indian population of labourers, tenant farmers, mechanics, storekeepers, busi ness and professional men, and politicians, Sir Raghunath came mostly in contact

with the politicians. The latter cannot muster a statesman amongst the lot of them Sir Raghunath’s visit has added to our experience. May the internal troubles that will be set India cause her local sons to count it a blessing that they live in Fiji and feel impelled to work for its advancement and the happiness of all its peoples.

EAit-fwln l Klrtfo caironai THE visit of Sir Raghunath Paranjpye to Fiji and his sometimes ill-advised utterances seem to have created a sensation in the Colony. So also will his statements to the Australian press on his return to Canberra.

He said, on May 13, that improved conditions for Fiji’s Indians would result from his discussions with the Fiji Goveminent which took place during his visit.

Sir Raghunath complained, on behalf

of the Indians, that in the past Indians had no security of land tenure, but this, he had been assured by the Government, f DUId be improved A scheme of leasing >? nd on 30-year terms with the option renewal was now proposed, He said that he had also taken up the matter of education. Hundreds of Indian children wished to attend school in the Colony but were unable to do so because there were too few schools, and inade quate facilities to take the children to the schools that did exist.

The Australian press, being totally un informed as to the Indian problem in pjji— or any Q f the Colony’s problems, f or tk at matter—are disposed to swallow the Indian High Commissioner’s state ments whole, forgetting that he fails to concern himself in any degree with the welfare of the indigenous Fijians, or the Europeans whose main purpose, these days, resolves itself into seeing that the Fijians get a fair deal.