"Perfectly disastrous," was the way one of India's leading statesmen summed up the attitude of Mahatma Gandhi in the present Indian crisis. Speaking over the Crimson Network last night, Diwan Bahadur Runganadhan, advisor to the Secretary of State for India in the British Cabinet, expressed his belief that "Gandhi is betraying the entire cause of human liberty" by his advocacy of non-violence and pacifism at this time.

Fortunately, however, there is no indication that any sections of India are likely to become pro-Japanese, despite the active Axis propaganda campaign. Apathetic and indifferent though the masses of Indians may be they will quickly repulse any Japanese invasion, the statesman said.

Queried as to the probability of a Japanese invasion in the near future, Runganadhan said that the Indians expect an enemy thrust as soon as the present monsoon season is over, but he expressed his doubts as to the ability of the Japanese to launch an invasion at any time.

Commenting on the contribution of India to the war effort, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Madras said, "It is considerable, but there is definite room for improvement. We are now producing at the rate of 90 per cent of our defense requirements, yet there is a great shortage of adequately trained technical engineers."