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WHAT IS INDIA ?
A Garden or a Grave-Yard ?
(By Dr. N. S. Hardiker, Hubli.) L OW does India fare in the world? What is her economic 11 status ? How does it compare with that of other countries ? Are the Indian people happy? Are they contented ? Are they prosperous ? Is India a happy land or is it miserable, looking like a grave-yard ?
In 1918 Lord Sinha who was then a member of the Imperial War Cabinet made a statement to the Overseas Press in London and remarked that :
"It was not a constitution alone that was wanted for India but contentment and prosperity. However efficient the system of Government might be it would be generally admitted that India was a very poor country, and, unless the whole policy of laissez faire was changed, was likely to remain so. India had not been prosperous for a long time past, and was not prosperous now......... Literally millions in India were on the border of starvation. Half the population never had a full meal in the day, and means must be found to remedy this state of affairs."
“Half the population" means 15 crores (150 millions) of people. It means nearly four times the total population of Great Britain or nearly one and half times the total population of the United States of America. And so many people "never had a full meal a day." It must be remembered that even to-day they do not have it.
Lord Sinha's statement can very well be substantiated by the figures given below which show the average annual per capita income of six countries in the world :
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
