194 POLICY FOE WESTEEN INDIA 



to take with a view to secure progress. Standing 

 Development Commissions of this kind have done 

 good work in the United States of America. When 

 the path that leads to progress has once been cleared, 

 it is possible that development might be promoted by 

 some such agency in India. 



This concludes the review of agricultural progress 

 that was attempted. The climate of India is not par- 

 ticularly conducive to hard work, and it may be ad- 

 mitted that there are some elements in the Indian 

 population which are lacking in energy, perseverance 

 and discipline. Amongst the mass of Indian culti- 

 vators, however, there are large numbers who reach 

 a high standard of diligence and industry when their 

 circumstances and organisation permit them to do so. 

 With the physical conditions and human material 

 available, the possibilities of material progress are 

 large and varied. The pace at which it will take 

 place must depend on how far the bulk of the people 

 desire it and are prepared to pay the price necessary 

 to secure it. With a view to explain the slow rate at 

 which progress has taken place it has been necessary 

 to call attention to all obvious defects in the institu- 

 tions and customs of the peasantry ; but the last thing 

 that is intended is to belittle the skill and industry of 

 the many good cultivators in western India. No one 

 who has worked amongst them can fail to appreciate 

 their admirable and amiable qualities. It is to these 

 men that this book is dedicated. 



