The following are excerpts from a journal discussing Indian affairs. All of these sections were published in the year 1890. Please pay close attention to the highlighted portions of the text, for the passages are lengthy, but these portions capture the essence of the articles.
The first three excerpts discuss the British point of view regarding the inclusion of Indians in government affairs, arguing that it is not a wise decision because Indians are incapable of holding political power. The "Indian Political Agency" article, written by a British correspondent, glorifies the agency for its consideration of complaints and concerns of Indian citizens. The final article was written by a Hindu High Priest who argues that the British have debased national customs and religious beliefs, and given the people of India a higher education without allowing them to put their knowledge to good use.
"There are many strong imperialists among ourselves who think the Empire would be better governed without giving votes in form to British subjects belonging to what they look upon as races. They point to the occasional burlesque of English fashions by those Hindoos of the towns and of the commercial whom they lump together under the title Bengali Baboos they ask whether these men can be anything but a source of to the Empire. Without arguing the question as one of right wrong and without entering upon any of those considerations justice which are often impossible of satisfactory decision it may be permissible to ask such men whether in these days it is possible to contemplate the prolonged exclusion from all political power in any form of races which are extraordinarily numerous which are becoming rich and which are receiving in many cases the best education that the world can give."
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"INDIAN POLITICAL AGENCY All classes of political and social work on behalf of India are undertaken by the Agency which is under the guidance and control of Mr WM Digby, C.I.B. Its operations have to do with India as a whole: grievances from any part of the Empire and of whatever character are received, are carefully considered, and, where found advisable, either the India Office or Parliament is addressed, while in some circumstances both are appealed to."
(1890) |
The natives are willfully murdered and no justice to be had; the judges all ascribe it to mere “accident”. And who will say, after this, that there is no ground for the discontent? If we plainly talk of it, Mr Veasey's secret police circular will hang over us like the sword of Damocles! There is a class of interested Anglo-Indians in the country, who are found to say that there is no such word as gratefulness in the whole range of the Indian vocabulary. Their contention is simply this: They say “that the British people have given the Indians English education, Western ideas, lofty aspirations, civilized modes of living, benefits of European and American science ideas of the most abstruse branches of human knowledge, made the people fit to do things that were required of them, connected the different parts of the country by railways and telegraphs, and united the whole of British India by one law and one language, and then, why should not the people be grateful towards the Government?”
My answer in behalf of the people to this would be that the Government gave the people of India liberal education but when they came up to the standard.
THE GOVERNMENT CLOSED THE DOORS OF ADVANCEMENT
What, then, was the good of higher education? Your education has undoubtedly given us noble ideas and lofty aspirations, but the means for gratifying those ideas and aspirations have been denied to us to a large extent. Your Western mode of civilization has demoralized the people, it has encroached upon their religious beliefs, it has separated them from their national customs and national religion, and what not?
Others will contend that the English have saved us from the cruel hands of the Mahommedan rulers. I admit that in many respects our person and property are more safe and secure than what they were during the fanatic rule of the Islamites; but the Mahommedan rulers as a class were not so bad as are many of the civilian huzoors, and the petty planters of Assam and Behar. The very names of these persons create a strong sense of indignation in the minds of the natives of Hindustan. The other day at a respectable public meeting, a promising young native speaker is reported to have thus addressed himself with regard to the British sway of India. “The earliest British conquerors of my country were said the speaker somewhat like interlopers. Morally, they had no right to come to Hindustan and extend a dominion in the East. Wherever these people (Englishmen) go, they are very soon found to be betrayers of confidence. They enter like needles and come out like big spades. For the sake of honey (lust) and money the English people,” continued the speaker, “can do anything and everything”.
My answer in behalf of the people to this would be that the Government gave the people of India liberal education but when they came up to the standard.
THE GOVERNMENT CLOSED THE DOORS OF ADVANCEMENT
What, then, was the good of higher education? Your education has undoubtedly given us noble ideas and lofty aspirations, but the means for gratifying those ideas and aspirations have been denied to us to a large extent. Your Western mode of civilization has demoralized the people, it has encroached upon their religious beliefs, it has separated them from their national customs and national religion, and what not?
Others will contend that the English have saved us from the cruel hands of the Mahommedan rulers. I admit that in many respects our person and property are more safe and secure than what they were during the fanatic rule of the Islamites; but the Mahommedan rulers as a class were not so bad as are many of the civilian huzoors, and the petty planters of Assam and Behar. The very names of these persons create a strong sense of indignation in the minds of the natives of Hindustan. The other day at a respectable public meeting, a promising young native speaker is reported to have thus addressed himself with regard to the British sway of India. “The earliest British conquerors of my country were said the speaker somewhat like interlopers. Morally, they had no right to come to Hindustan and extend a dominion in the East. Wherever these people (Englishmen) go, they are very soon found to be betrayers of confidence. They enter like needles and come out like big spades. For the sake of honey (lust) and money the English people,” continued the speaker, “can do anything and everything”.