DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.614#0373
330
lessly into debt, are lamentably prevalent in India. As
multitudes are ready to borrow, it is a natural conse-
quence that there should be many ready to lend,
especially as the rate of interest is enormously high.
This pernicious custom of society enriches a few, but
impoverishes many, and greatly interferes with the com-
fort and happiness of the Hindu community generally.
Whi],e the number of persons with very small incomes
in Benares is, undoubtedly, extremely large, yet, for a
city of its size, I believe the number of abject poor
is remarkably small. The sum needed for the support
of a family there, would, in England, be regarded
almost with incredulity. As labour, for the most part,
is sufficiently abundant, there is no reason, therefore,
why any family, the leading member of which is in
health, should be in distress; yet, should he fall
ill, unless other members of the family are able to
work, it will, probably, be brought into difficulties,
though not, at first, into misery. The friendly banker
is then applied to, who, for a time at least, is usually
willing to lend the family money, at high interest,
expecting to be repaid when the sick person is restored
to health; but, at the same time, an incubus of debt
will rest upon the household for many long months, and,
it may be, for years.
The desire for education, above all in the English
language, is rapidly increasing, from year to year,
amongst nearly all classes of natives in Benares. At
one time it was a hard matter to induce parents to Send
their sons to the Government and Mission schools, to
receive a gratuitous education; now they are eager to
lessly into debt, are lamentably prevalent in India. As
multitudes are ready to borrow, it is a natural conse-
quence that there should be many ready to lend,
especially as the rate of interest is enormously high.
This pernicious custom of society enriches a few, but
impoverishes many, and greatly interferes with the com-
fort and happiness of the Hindu community generally.
Whi],e the number of persons with very small incomes
in Benares is, undoubtedly, extremely large, yet, for a
city of its size, I believe the number of abject poor
is remarkably small. The sum needed for the support
of a family there, would, in England, be regarded
almost with incredulity. As labour, for the most part,
is sufficiently abundant, there is no reason, therefore,
why any family, the leading member of which is in
health, should be in distress; yet, should he fall
ill, unless other members of the family are able to
work, it will, probably, be brought into difficulties,
though not, at first, into misery. The friendly banker
is then applied to, who, for a time at least, is usually
willing to lend the family money, at high interest,
expecting to be repaid when the sick person is restored
to health; but, at the same time, an incubus of debt
will rest upon the household for many long months, and,
it may be, for years.
The desire for education, above all in the English
language, is rapidly increasing, from year to year,
amongst nearly all classes of natives in Benares. At
one time it was a hard matter to induce parents to Send
their sons to the Government and Mission schools, to
receive a gratuitous education; now they are eager to