If the United States would see to it that famine in South Asia is alleviated, the Communists could not succeed in taking over control there, Ram Urgah Singh, Dean of the Lucknow Law School and member of the Indian Parliament, told a Law School Forum at Langdell Hall last night.

Hunger, Singh asserted, is the chief ally of Communism. He mentioned two ways in which the United States can help fight famine. First, he said, the U.S. could exert pressure on the "reactionary governments" of South Asia to effect some overdue land reforms, and second, the U.S. can give direct aid in the form of food.

Singh admitted overpopulation is a problem in India, but said the high mortality rate is preventing a crisis at the present time. Overpopulation will become acute, he said, when sanitation lowers the present high death rate.

At the same time Singh upheld India's stand in the Kashmir dispute with Pakistan, maintaining that India wants the people of Kashmir to decide whether they will join India or Pakistan.

Singh received a degree of Doctor of Juridicial Science from the Law School in 1931.

Paul Freund, Charles Stebbins Fairchild Professor of Law, made the introductory speech.