INDIA TODAY

A well-known and widely read Indian journalist (British educated) here gives us an enlightening book on the present condition in India. The situation just about defies description, for the problems confronting India are as complicated, deep and insoluble as a Chinese puzzle. India is a third the size of the United States, but with three times as many people and a budget equal to that of New York City. Her masses live on a bare subsistence level, yet they are led by a government steeped in 19th century socialist theory. This has made it difficult for the economy even to hold the line on the present abominable standard of living, let alone make any significant advances. There are other problems besides overpopulation, illiteracy, underdevelopment, and socialist planning. There is the Hindu religion, which encourages more dreaming than doing, sacred cows, castes, and untouchability. ""India, for all her loud-voiced sympathy for the underdog"", writes the author, ""herself needs the softening touch of humanism at home."" Mr. Moraes examines and discusses all of these problems as well as those pertaining to foreign policy and internal Indian politics. He also goes into the question of Nehru's possible successor, giving the reader a glimpse of the men who make the most eligible candidates. As for democracy, Mr. Moraes does not believe that India has quite yet arrived. He thinks, however, that after Nehru will come the real test.