Articles by D C Kale

is a landmark in the hi story of Malayalam language. The whole project was completed in 68 months. The encyclopaedia deals with 12,000 topics and there were about 1,000 contributors. It is remarkable that a co-opera- live .society of authors could successfully complete such an ambitious undertaking, though, to those who know the history of this society, this will not come as a surprise. It was started in 1045 by 12 authors with a capital of lis 120 for publishing books and for eliminating the exploitation of authors by printers and publishers. Very soon it became the leading publishing house in Kerala, It has now a subscribed capital of Rs 8 lakhs and has published 4,500 titles, including reprints of some rare books like Gundert's Malayalam dictionary. It is publishing a book a day of late and pays the highest royalty to authors. "Viswa Vijnanakosam" is priced Rs 600.

Muscles of Steel D C Kale The Soviet Challenge in Base Metals by Alexander Sutulov, Salt Lake City, University of Utah Printing Services, 1971; pp viii + 195; $ 12.50, By orbiting a heavy Sputnik into the sky without fanfare in 1957, Russia gave cleat notices that in the science and technology race it was not far behind the US. Less dramatically, it also set a more basic challenge: that of surpassing the US as the leading producer of steel and base metals by the end of their ninth Plan in 1975. The way in which this task is being tackled makes a fascinating study in spite of the information being presented in patches, Alexander Sutulov has in the past few years, given con- siderable attention to the development of the mining and metallurgical industries in USSR, The book under review is the result of his careful compilation of technological and economic data on this subject. His theme is to compare production and consumption in the USSR with that in the US, but there are many lessons to be learned by India as to how a backward country built up its mineral industry to a dominant position. The introductory chapter mentions that, while the two gaint countries have only 12 per- cent of the world's population, they account for half of the world's gross output and 40 per cent of base metals output. At the end of the sixties, the annual mineral output per capita was around $100 for the US and $60 for Russia. The USSR's ninth Five Year Plan (1970-75), which envisages an investment of over $500,000 million, will boost steel output by 26 per cent, oil and natural gas by about 45 per cent, and copper and aluminium by 35 to 70 per cent, It must be remembered too that these increases are over base figures which are already among the highest in the world.

D C Kale IN the context of the generally worsening terms of trade of the developing countries, who Are also primarily exporters of unfinished goods, ores and minerals, much thought has to be given to discovering ways in which better terms can be obtained for these exports.

villagers it is hard to decide where the wells should be dug as that requires some knowledge of soil structures and water tables. This the State could well undertake through consultants. True location would still pose a problem of intra-village feuds, but these surely can be thrashed out with the co-operation of the villagers. After all, even today solutions are imposed on the villagers on the excuse of the dire famine and scai- city conditions. The wells would at least increase agricultural productivity. We were struck by the lack of organisation among the labourers themselves, despite the appalling terms and condi- hand methods to pay a man less than his due, nor that union leaders are ever ready to accept gratifications from employers. Barring a few honourable exceptions, one can say that morality in the matter of labour relations is unheard of in the area. Thirdly, the industry has suffered for want of wagons for years and years. Even when It produces enough coal, the industry cannot despatch it; like the quality of mercy coal can bless him that gives, and him that receives. Today both sides are suffering because railways have failed to measure up to the demands made on them. They have failed to make wagons available; they have failed to control their staff, which resorts to strikes and go-slow tactics at the slightest excuse in this area; and they have failed to check corruption and thefts. Railways have lost valuable freight, and an artificial shortage of coal has led to profiteering by opportunists.

Iron Ore Needs Perspective Planning D C Kale THE export of iron ore is a major factor in India's foreign trade. Iron ore mining and export, however, have not developed as systematically as one could wish. The industry has had to meet the twin demands of exports and the local steel plants. The Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI) has recently published a study which makes the point that there is enough iron ore in the country to last for centuries and suggests that, therefore, intensive efforts should be made to export the maximum possible quantity of ore in the next few years. The study further recommends the export of pellets, pig iron and crude steel, until India is in a position to export semifinished and finished goods.