Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 277, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1920 — OFFER HINDUS HOMES [ARTICLE]

OFFER HINDUS HOMES

Invited by Amir to Settle in Afghanistan. First Time in History Such a Concession Has Been Made by Ruler of the Country. New York.—The amir of Afghanistan. for the first time in history, according to Dr. N. S. Hardiker of the India Information bureau here, has invited Hindus to settle in his country, to accomplish which he has announced the following royal concessions, said to Indicate a movement for the unification of the peoples of Asia: 1. Noninterference in the observance of Hindus' religious 2. Freedom of Hindus to travel and settle in any part of the country. 3. Government protection of Hindu home?. 4. Hindu representation in the Afghan assembly. 5. Unrestricted travel permitted Hindu women. There are more than 200,000,000 Hindus and 70.000,000 Moslems in India, and a hijrat, or exodus, of many of the latter to Afghanistan, according

to Dr. Hardiker, already Is under way. “The proposals of the amir are aimed," he said, “at dispelling the notion that Afghanistan is partial to Islamism.' The proclamation clearly shows that all freedom and protection will be extended to Hindu subjects and that no interference will be exercised in the religious observances of the Hindus, however much these may differ from the beliefs of the Mohammedans and Afghans. The amir undoubtedly is endeavoring to promote a better feeling between Afghanistan and India.”