The Hindu Business Line : <I>Then and now </I>

Sixty years into Independence, the style of governance seems to be growing only more heartless and arrogant. The experience of those who, like the columnist, are familiar with the eras both before and after Independence is that the colonial rulers were more responsive and considerate than the present so-called elected Ministers and their minions.

As a student, I once sought an appointment with the Governor, Sir Arthur Hope, and within a couple of days, my "most obedient and humble servant" the private secretary replied, giving the date and time. Equally prompt used to be the response of any functionary, however high, at Delhi before 1947.

Try it now with any Governor, Chief Minister, Chief Secretary or even a lowly Collector of all of whom you are sovereign masters. You will be cooling your heels till eternity.

The treatment of political prisoners at the hands of the British was also humane. In regard to leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and others, the Collectors and Commissioners in whose jurisdiction they were jailed used to regularly visit them to ascertain their needs and wants, if any.

Once, Gandhi, than whom there was no greater foe of the colonial rulers, wrote to the Viceroy, Lord Linthgow, during war time, about the difficulty in getting newsprint for his publications.

Remember, these were meant to rouse the people against the British. The Viceroy at once saw to it that the hitch was removed.

Compare their graciously human approach with that of the UPA Government towards Ms Medha Patkar who is espousing the cause of the deprived and the downtrodden. After all, is she not staking her life while the governing class is wallowing in air-conditioned comfort?

B. S. RAGHAVAN