The Obstructions:

He said: For economic progress to be possible, there must be a certain percentage of the nation with qualities of self-reliance, ambition, and ability. In India, despite five year plans, etc., there are Insufficient able men to carry them out. There is an ideal amongst intellectuals that economic science is the key to the future, and the panacea to all ills—but no one can put it into practice. Professor Munz felt that the greatest obstruction was the Joint family system: Aunts, grand-parents, sisters, cousins—the whole family—would live together in one home. There is consequently no small-family life, no opportunity for personal and private relationships, either in the family or outside it. What a person knows or does is shared by all, especially marriages.

The result is a muted personality with personal feelings subordinated to those of the community. Even husband and wife relationships are affected. This situation can never produce an ambitious, independent people with qualities for going ahead.

A Second Danger:

Out of this comes a second danger: the fragmentation of society. The family is self-sufficient, has its own rules and developes little concern for the community. All things which lead beyond the family-circle—academic work, travel, etc.—will ultimately be abandoned for the individual to return to the fold. The attitudes of one stranger to another is distrust, and caution.

Child Marriages—Effect:

In the institution of child-marriages, the girl is introduced into her husband's family immediately; She is almost his sister; and the exclusive family-life is preserved.

Instead of children being pushed out and trained to fend for themselves, they are provided for and protected within a rigid, traditional family pattern.

Possible Historical Explanations

Professor Munz gave two possible explanations. The fossilization of society by the religious ideas that as salvation could only come through so many reincar-nations. society was strictly classified to maintain the distinctions of goodness. Secondly, the effects of the islamic invasions was to force Indians back into the only secure protection they know—family life.

On all this, British rule had very little effect, despite the bitter claim of many Indians.

The Discussions

In the discussions which followed Professor Munz's talk concerned mainly the culpability of the British, and the future of India, which looks very grim. The people apparently lack drive and emotional force. They accept traditional patterns too easily.

The problems facing India are those of any pre-industrial society but she is proving intractable to any change.

—K.J.C.