Part 2 (1/2)
These may be considered as the slow party and the impatient party. Some call the Moderates the timid party, and the Extremists the bold party.
All interpret the two words according to their pre-conceptions. This much is certain--that there has arisen an enmity between the two. The one distrusts the other, and imputes motives. At the time of the Surat Congress, there was almost a fight. I think that this division is not a good thing for the country, but I think also that such divisions will not last long. It all depends upon the leaders how long they will last.
CHAPTER III
DISCONTENT AND UNREST
READER: Then you consider Part.i.tion to be a cause of the awakening? Do you welcome the unrest which has resulted from it?
EDITOR: When a man rises from sleep, he twists his limbs and is restless. It takes some time before he is entirely awakened. Similarly, although the Part.i.tion has caused an awakening, the comatose has not yet disappeared. We are still twisting our limbs and still restless, and just as the state between sleep and awakening must be considered to be necessary, so may the present unrest in India be considered a necessary and, therefore, a proper state. The knowledge that there is unrest will, it is highly probable, enable us to outgrow it. Rising from sleep, we do not continue in a comatose state, but, according to our ability, sooner or later, we are completely restored to our senses. So shall we be free from the present unrest which no one likes.
READER: What is the other form of unrest?
EDITOR: Unrest is, in reality, discontent. The latter is only now described as unrest. During the Congress-period it was labelled discontent; Mr. Hume always said that the spread of discontent in India was necessary. This discontent is a very useful thing. So long as a man is contented with his present lot, so long is it difficult to persuade him to come out of it. Therefore it is that every reform must be preceded by discontent. We throw away things we have only when we cease to like them. Such discontent has been produced among us after reading the great works of Indians and Englishmen. Discontent has led to unrest, and the latter has brought about many deaths, many imprisonments, many banishments. Such a state of things will still continue. It must be so.
All these may be considered good signs, but they may also lead to bad results.
CHAPTER IV
WHAT IS SWARAJ?
READER: I have now learnt what the Congress has done to make India one nation, how the Part.i.tion has caused an awakening, and how discontent and unrest have spread through the land. I would now like to know your views on Swaraj. I fear that our interpretation is not the same.
EDITOR: It is quite possible that we do not attach the same meaning to the term. You and I and all Indians are impatient to obtain Swaraj, but we are certainly not decided as to what it is. To drive the English out of India is a thought heard from many mouths, but it does not seem that many have properly considered why it should be so. I must ask you a question. Do you think that it is necessary to drive away the English, if we get all we want?
READER: I should ask of them only one thing that is: ”Please leave our country.” If after they have complied with this request, their withdrawal from India means that they are still in India, I should have no objection. Then we would understand that, in our language, the word ”gone” is equivalent to ”remained.”
EDITOR: Well then, let us suppose that the English have retired. What will you do then?
READER: That question cannot be answered at this stage. The state after withdrawal will depend largely upon the manner of it. If, as you a.s.sume, they retire, it seems to me we shall still keep their const.i.tution, and shall carry on the government. If they simply retire for the asking, we should have an army, etc. ready at hand. We should, therefore, have no difficulty in carrying on the government.
EDITOR: You may think so: I do not. But I will not discuss the matter just now. I have to answer your question, and that I can do well by asking you several questions. Why do you want to drive away the English?
READER: Because India has become impoverished by their government. They take away our money from year to year. The most important posts are reserved for themselves. We are kept in a state of slavery. They behave insolently towards us, and disregard our feelings.
EDITOR: If they do not take our money away, become gentle, and give us responsible posts, would you still consider their presence to be harmful?
READER: That question is useless. It is similar to the question whether there is any harm in a.s.sociating with a tiger, if he changes his nature.
Such a question is sheer waste of time. When a tiger changes his nature, Englishmen will change theirs. This is not possible, and to believe it to be possible is contrary to human experience.
EDITOR: Supposing we get self-government similar to what the Canadians and the South Africans have, will it be good enough?