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The Foundation of Local Self-Government in India, Pakistan and Burma by Hugh Tinker Review by: L. King Quan World Affairs, Vol. 117, No. 4 (Winter, 1954), p. 124 Published by: World Affairs Institute Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20668999 . Accessed: 16/05/2014 05:07 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

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with the people in the streets and in their homes about the importantproblems facing India today, such as the joint family system,

the

caste

system

and

the marriage

customs.

Most

of

the

only desirable but productive, in the long run, of truly successful living. This book has been listed among top best sellers in the non fiction list formany months. Its influenceshould be, like Portia'* "little candle" throwing its beams far, like a "good deed in a

people realize that changes have to be made, but progress is slow because they still cling in their hearts to the traditional beliefs. He visited the classical dancing and music schools, the great naughty world." Mabel Soule Call Dravidian templesof the South, the deepest gold mine atMysore, The American Peace Society the litde known communities of theWhite Jews, the Syrian Christians, as well as the settiementsof the Dutch, French and The Foundation of Local S elf"Government in India, Pakistan Portuguese. Mr. Seymour is endowed with the knack of making and Burma. By Hugh Tinker. (London: The Athlone Press, to see Education who for Basic the doors him friends, opened of London, 1954. Pp. 376. $7.00) University Centers and other Community Projects, which dedicate their Local effortsto the progress of the nation. self-government in India in an institutionof Western Before its introduction, there existed no institution in origin. One of the chief virtues of this book is that the author does India with the possible exception of the fanchayat (a committee not offer advice to the people for the improvement of their of village elders) which resembles this system in any way. It social and political systems,or write long interviewswith the was introduced into India by Lord Ripon's Resolution of 1822 a high and mighty about politics. It is essentially book about the with the view of fostering a better relationship.between the ordinary people of India. He lived in theirhomes, ate their food and the government governed as well as to affordpolitical educa and traveled in their company. In short, he tried to be one tion for eventual self-government. as an was honored guest treated of them. In doing so, he This book is a well-documented history of the evolution and one can make everywhere he went. This goes to show that friends anywhere in the world so long as one respects others development of local self-government in India, Pakistan and Burma from the beginning to the eve of national independence. as consideration. and treats them with equals It is pointed out by the author that local government in India L. King Quan and Burma shows neither boldness in itsdevelopment nor promi D. C. Washington, nence

in its achievement.

Some

of

the shortcomings

are

inherent

in the failings common to the operation of the democratic form

The Prime Minister. By V. Venkata Rao. (Bombay: Vora and of to the economic the and some are due chaos, government, Co., 1954. Pp. 82. Index. Rs. 3/12) and the the ferment, maladjust leadership political inadequate Dr. Benkata Rao is Lecturer in Politics at the University of ment between the customsof the East and the innovationsof the on local government West. In Gauhati and is the author of several studies spite of itsmany disappointments, the system can also in India. Interest aroused among his graduate students by the claim many successes, among which are the of primary expansion Governor-General of Pakistan's dismissal of Prime Minister education, the introduction of compulsory education in many Nazimuddia in April 1952, led Dr. Venkata Rao to write this areas, the extension of and other health vaccination compulsory study of the Prime Minister's office.What he has done is useful measures, the installationof electricity and water supplies as well as an instrumentof political education for his countrymen and as town and slum-clearance. planning to interestingto others as an example of India's effort shape and As to the question of how far the systemdid actually afford understand her political institutions in the infancy of the new an education of self-government, and practice in the state. Dr. Venkata Rao in this slender volume has brought the author feels that principle it can only be assessedwith finality in the together basic information on the Prime Minister's office, its years to come when course of in the future evolution political history, the method of appointment and dismissal, its powers, the In Burma unfolds Pakistan and itself. India, independent functions and external relations. His data concerns primarily the that a healthy it must be admitted meantime, system of local office in theUnited Kingdom, to a somewhat less extent in the as a on the would be invaluable check power of the government Dominions, France and India today.Western readerswill enjoy new the standard in raising and as an instrument bureaucracy the easy escape of the author from objectivity in his praise of of of the people. living Nehru. One simple sentence is eloquent in its truth: "To the This book is well written. It not only gives the reader a people of this country he is a symbol." of the local clear of the Elmer

Louis

understanding

Kayser

The George Washington University

government

operation

systembut also a better appreciation of the social and political problems

three

the

confronting

countries

today. L.

The Power of Positive Thinking. By Norman Vincent Peale. (New York: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1954. 12th printing. Pp. xi, 276. $2.95) In this time of apprehension,when dark wings of fear spread

King

Quan

Washington,

D.

C.

A Merchant Prince of the Nineteenth Century? William E. Dodge. By Richard Lowitt. (New York: Columbia University low over the human race, one could hardly find a better correc Press, 1954. Pp. xii, 384. Index.) tive thanDr. Peak's cheery book.He preaches a hopeful attitude William Earl Dodge was the son of thatDavid Low Dodge towards all one's personal problems, drawing strength from un who, in 1815 organized the first Peace Society, and helped seem of modern science faith. The Ladd to get the American Peace Society under way. William insights swerving religious to bolster the author's claim that such positive attitudes, if per William E. Dodge, therefore,grew up in an atmosphereof public sisted in,will surely lead to triumphant living. Never service and active particularly philanthropy. responsible some narrates in which instance chapter and turn into power, prayer through anxiety

Each seen

Whatever

may

be

one's

attitude

towards

the

author

has

confidence.

apparently

sudden

miracles of physical healing or other prosperity, it seems in not disputable that a habitual attitude of confidence and faith is

in peace

like

efforts,

his

father

and

his

father-in-law,

Anson

was Phelps, and, later his own son,William Earl Dodge, Jr., he a conscientious "His problems

Christian

attitude he

toward

never

in his many

labor,"

understood,

124World

This content downloaded from 111.68.103.4 on Fri, 16 May 2014 05:07:34 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

says was

business operations. the author, "a group whose not enlightened." Dodge

Affairs, Winter,

1954