(EDITORIAL) That five years of war have not resulted in securing for Indian seamen a like pay as the British seamen for like dangers endured is not surprising when the colour bar has always acted as the deciding factor in assessing scales of pay. The pre-war wages for Indian seamen and stokers were Rs. 23/- and Rs. 18/- respectively and the agitation carried on by them has succeeded only in trebling the rates. … The demand for a minimum wage of Rs. 200/- is modest on their part considering that British seamen who signed up are entitled to Rs. 350/- per month.

Between the India Office in London and the Government of India in New Delhi, Indian seamen seem to be all at sea but their spokesman has drawn attention again to their “just, proper and human demands”.

The disparity between British and Indian scales of pay for the same job is apparent all over India, in the civil as well as the military spheres. … It is, however, essential to recognize that … the continued discrimination against Indian seamen would call for action on the part of the Government and by delaying it now, they would not have added to their reputation and sense of justice. (Dawn, Delhi)

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2014