Vol. 8 · pages 246–250

221PAKISTAN : LESSONS FROM ABROAD weakening of the Central Government is brought about by the desire to placate the Muslim Provinces who wish to be independent of the authority of the Central Government on the ground that the Central Government is bound to be predominantly Hindu in character and composition. When Pakistan comes into being these considerations can have no force. Hindustan can then have a strong Central Government and a homogeneous population, which are necessary elements for the stability of the state and neither of which will be secured unless there is severance of Pakistan from Hindustan. zz

PART IV PAKISTAN AND THE MALAISE The Hindu-Muslim problem has tow aspects to it. In its first aspect, the problem that presents itself is the problem of two separate communities facing each other and seeking adjustment of their respective right and privileges. In its other aspect, the problem is the problem of the reflex influences which this separation and conflict produces upon each of them. In the course of the foregoing discussion we have looked at the project of Pakistan in relation to the first of the aspects of the Hindu-Muslim problem. We have not examined the project of Pakistan in relation to the second aspect of that problem. Yet, such an examination is necessary because that aspect of the Hindu-Muslim problem is not unimportant. It is a very superficial if not an incomplete view to stop with the problem of the adjustment of their claims. It cannot be overlooked that their lot is cast together : as such they have to participate in a course of common activity whether they like it or not. And if in this commoon activity they face each other as two combatants do, then their actions and reactions are worth study, for they affect both and produce a state of affairs from which if it is a deceased state, the question of escape must be faced. A study of the situation shows that the actions and reactions have produced a malaise which exhibits itself in three ways : (1) Social Stagnation, (2) Communal Aggression, and (3) National Frustration of Political Destiny. This malaise is a grave one. Will Pakistan be a remedy for the malaise ? Or, will it aggravate the malaise ? The following chapters are devoted to the consideration of these questions.

CHAPTER X SOCIAL STAGNATION I The social evils which characterize the Hindu Society, have been well known. The publication of Mother India by Miss Mayo gave these evils the widest publicity. But while Mother India served the purpose of exposing the evils and calling their authors at the bar of the world to answer for their sins, it created the unfortunate impression throughout the world that while the Hindus were grovelling in the mud of these social evils and were conservative, the Muslims in India were free from them, and as compared to the Hindus, were a progressive people. That, such an impression should prevail, is surprising to those who know the Muslim Society in India at close quarters. One may well ask if there is any social evil which is found among the Hindus and is not found among the Muslims ? Take child-marriage. The Secretary of the Anti-Childmarriage Committee, constituted by the All-India Women’s Conference, published a bulletin which gives the extent of the evil of child-marriage in the different communities in the country. The figures which were taken from the Census Report of 1931 are as follows:— TABLE MARRIED FEMALES AGED 0-15 PER 1000 FEMALES OF THAT AGE. Hindus Muslims Jains Sikhs Christians 1881 .. 208 153 189 170 33 1891 .. 193 141 172 143 37 1901 .. 186 131 164 101 38 1911 .. 184 123 130 88 39 1921 .. 170 111 117 72 32 1931 .. 199 186 125 80 43 Vol-VIII-8