assumption that what happens in the educational world in the
Punjab necessarily happens in the rest of India is a mistaken
one. It is generally recognised that the Punjab has made more
rapid advances in primary education in the last 10 or 15 years
than any other province in India.
In reply to my question about the inferiority of the literacy
in the two largest Indian States, Kashmir, (Predominantly
Mohammedan with a Hindu ruler), and Hyderabad,
(Predominantly Hindu with a Mohammedan ruler), you
suggested that perhaps Kashmir was educationally backward
because it was predominantly Mohammedan, but this left the
backwardness of Hyderabad as compared with British India
unexplained. Probably the facts had not been previously brought
to your notice.
If you should find ultimately that the inference from your
remarks that backwardness in literacy and education has been
due to British administration in India was unjustified, I feel
certain that you would wish to correct your statement.
I am
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-Philip Hartog
M.K. Gandhi Esq.,
Round Table Conference,
St. James’ Palace,
S.W.1
...
88, Knightsbridge,
London, W.
23rd October, 1931Dear Friend,
Inadvertently, I have no doubt, you have omitted to sign
your letter, but as the address is fully given, I am hoping that
this letter will reach you.
You will realise that I could not off-hand give you the dates,
but since you would gladly study the whole question, I would
find out the numbers of ‘Young India’ in which the articles
appeared and send the references to you. I shall also find out
what is possible to prove with reference to the other provinces,
apart from the deductions that I have drawn from the Punjab.
Meanwhile, I have no difficulty in drawing the deduction from
the rest