Foreign News: Cobra in the Garden

Like so many proud fathers, India's Communists were busy clucking and exclaiming over their new prize exhibit—the Communist government of the state of Kerala (pop. 13.6 million) in southwest India. While Prime Minister Nehru's central government watched nervously, Chief Minister Sankaran Namboodiripad put on quite a show in his first two weeks in office. Ventilation systems were ordered for the state jails. The pay of village headmen was ostentatiously raised from $6.75 a month to a maximum of almost $11 a month. In a "gesture of mercy," the Communists promised to release 500 "political" prisoners, many of whom proved to be...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!