Madhusudan_Das

His Life and Achievements: 19
in the Patna High Court when he was a member of the Legislative
Assembly as a representative of this province— I became personally
acquainted with him when he was appointed Minister by the late Lord
Sinha, the first Indian Governor. The appointment was received with
some surprise on account of his advanced age. He was about 73 years
at the time of appointment.
He was assigned the portfolio of Local Self-Government and he
took up the work in right earnest. I, as a member, had to discuss
almost all important problems specially concerning public health and
administration of local bodies . I found him extremely sympathetic
and inclined to take keenest interest in the welfare of the people. I
generally found him bold and independent which was a rare
qualification of a Minister under Dyarchy. There were several matters
in which I came in direct conflict with his views and the first and
foremost was the salary of the Minister. I tabled a resolution that the
Minister's salary which was fixed at first Rs. 5,000 be fixed at Rs.
4,000. There were several amendments to this motion, Mr. Das was
not in favour of any reduction salary. The Council voted against my
resolution. One year later on 21st of February, 1922, Mr. Das in his
speech said that the post of the Minister should be an honorary one.
I quote below his speech.
"I have always looked upon gold as a handful of dust which
a man might throw from his hands and still be a man— a being
with a Divine spark in him... He must inspire the members of the
Municipalities and District Boards, all local bodies, local authorities
and the villagers with a patriotic spirit, inculcate in them a genuine
spirit of self-sacrifice, a genuine desire of nation-building, and with
their cooperation discharge the responsibilities of his office. In an
organisation in which all the workers are honorary, a salaried Minister
mars the symmetry and harmony of the organisations. The office of
the Minister of the Local Self-Government ought to be honorary."
His ground was that when the executives of local bodies were
honorary and work was expected from them there was no reason why
the post of the Minister should carry high salary. There is much force
in his argument, but how far it is practicable under the present
condition of the country is a debatable matter.
In 1923 I had moved again another resolution for reduction in
Minister's salary from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 4,000, which was accepted