Acommittee has been appointed under the chairmanship of Dr. Sampurnanand to devise ways and means of achieving emotional integration and national consciousness among the students of the country. It is quite some time since we converted things like national consciousness into commodities that can almost be bought in the market place in kilos. As a displaced person for the time being, Dr. Sampurnanand may welcome the idea, but our hearts go out in sympathy to the students, a long harassed lot. Now that the committee has been appointed, however, we would suggest that it starts by tackling the language problem. Which emotional integration will escape students if each state is told to conduct university education in its own regional language and preferably in as many dialects as humanly possible so that the graduate of one state will not be able to converse with that of another even in the higher realms of knowledge.
January 19, 1961
Belated though it is, Government of Maharashtra’s decision to do away with the system of trial by jury in the sessions court of the State capital is to be welcomed. For one thing, it was rather inconsistent that the system should have enjoyed a lease of life in Greater Bombay although it had been abolished in the districts. Quite apart from the question of consistency, the system itself has been found to be extremely unsatisfactory to the extent of being perverse. The High Court indicated its views in no uncertain terms when it stated that “the system of trial by jury has outlived its utility.” The Law Commission had gone one step further and characterised the whole system as a “failure.” Indeed, there is much to be said even in favour of this system in that it provides an accused the opportunity of being judged not by the cold majesty of the law but by his fellowmen. But as it happens it is these men of the world who have graced many a panel of jury that have failed the system. And this, it must be admitted, is a sad reflection on the integrity of the Indian people for which they have only themselves to blame.
January 23, 1961
