{"id":1093,"date":"2013-07-13T01:32:30","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:32:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=1093"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:32:30","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:32:30","slug":"67-facts-and-opinions-22-1-1910-vol-02-karmayogin-volume-02","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/01-sabcl\/02-karmayogin-volume-02\/67-facts-and-opinions-22-1-1910-vol-02-karmayogin-volume-02","title":{"rendered":"-67_Facts and Opinions 22-1-1910.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n
\n


\n
\nFacts and Opinions<\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\nVolume I – Jan.
\n22, 1910 – Number 29<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n


\n\t
\n Lajpatrai’s
\n Letters<\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\nT<\/b>he case of Parmanand, the Arya Samaj teacher, whom with a singular
\npusillanimity the D.A.V. College authorities
\nhave dismissed before anything was proved against him, has been of more than
\nusual interest because of the parade with which Lajpatrai’s letters to him were
\nbrought forward. The letters were innocent enough on the face of them, but prejudice
\nand suspicion were deliberately manufactured out of the connection with Krishnavarma, the expression
\n"revolutionary", the use of the word "boys", and an
\nanticipation of the agrarian outbreak in connection with the Punjab
\nGovernment’s ill-advised Land legislation. The bubble has been speedily pricked
\nby the simple statement of facts in the Punjabee<\/i>
\nand by Lajpatrai’s own evidence. That Lajpatrai
\nwas acquainted with Shyamji Krishnavarma
\nwhen he was in England, was known already; so were many men who worked with him. Sir Henry Cotton among others, when he was only
\nan enthusiastic Home Ruler and violently opposed to violence. The project of a
\nNationalist Servants of India Society well-equipped with a library and other
\nappointments for political education was well advertised and known to the
\nwhole country previous to the first deportations. The anticipation of the
\nagrarian outbreak in the letter expresses an apprehension, not a desire, and
\nmerely shows that Lajpatrai was uneasy at the rate at which the discontent was
\nswelling and feared that it might lead to an outbreak prematurely forestalling
\nthe use of a peaceful pressure on the Government. It is remarkable how
\nthroughout his career the honesty and consistency of Lala
\nLajpatrai’s adherence to a peaceful but strenuous Nationalism has been
\nvindicated at every step, and this last revelation of his private and even
\nsecret letters is an ordeal of fire out of which he has triumphantly emerged
\nwith his<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Page \u2013 363<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

\nconsistency
\nand his innocence wholly established.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n A Nervous
\n Samaj<\/a><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It is with great regret that we find
\nourselves compelled to enlarge on the hint we gave in our last issue and
\ncomment adversely on the methods by which the Arya
\nSamaj is attempting to save itself from the displeasure of the Government. It
\nis well that it should have disclaimed sedition and repudiated the charge of
\nbeing not a religious but a political body. But to run nervously to all and
\nsundry for a testimonial of respectability, to sue for a certificate of loyalty
\nto the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab and express gratitude for an
\nungracious, ambiguous and minatory letter of reply, to prejudge by dismissal a
\nman whose guilt has yet to be proved, are actions which show that Swami Dayananda’s
\nreligion may have emancipated the intellects of the leading Samajists but has done little to elevate their
\ncharacter. We must also express our amazement at the action of the Samaj in
\naccepting the resignation by Lala Lajpatrai of his offices on
\nthe various governing bodies of the Samaj. There are two men who are the glory
\nof the Samaj and by whose adherence and prominence it commands the respect and
\nadmiration of all India, Lala Lajpatrai and Lala Munshiram.
\nBy its action with regard to the former, the Samaj will lose heavily, it has
\nalready lost heavily, in public estimation. In his generous anxiety for the
\nbody to which he has devoted the greater part of his life-work, Lala Lajpatrai
\noffered to it the chance of freeing itself
\nfrom the attacks its enemies founded upon his connection with it. It was an
\noffer which he was bound to make, but the Samaj ought to have refused. Lajpatrai’s only offence is that he has worked and
\nsuffered for his country. By its action the Samaj has announced to the whole
\nworld that no man must dare to feel and act, however blamelessly, for his
\ncountry if he wishes to be recognised by the Samaj. If so, Aryaism will perish from the face of India and
\nleave no trace behind. The world has no use any longer for religious bodies
\nwhich exclude courage, manliness, generosity, justice and patriotism from
\ntheir moral practice.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Page \u2013 364<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n


\n\t
\n The
\n Banerji Vigilance Committees<\/a><\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The novel
\ndeparture initiated by the fertile mind of Srijut Surendranath Banerji at Barrackpur in the creation of Vigilance
\nCommittees to check the nocturnal lovers of bomb and bullet practice on the E.B.S.R. has created great interest and amusement
\namong his countrymen. There are many who are ungenerous enough to attribute
\nthis anti-Anarchical zeal less to loyalty and a noble "co-operative"
\ninstinct than to the fact that our great leader has himself to travel daily
\nover the zone of danger. Even if it were so, the sneer is ungenerous. We all
\nlove our lives, we have all to travel occasionally by the E.B.S.R. in first or
\nsecond class and we cannot ignore the fact that random bullets and explosive
\ncocoanuts are not respecters of persons and, if they find the head even of a
\nNationalist leader in the way, will not be polite enough to walk round it. We
\nshall all therefore be grateful to our old man eloquent, if he can ensure our
\ncommon safety. But for ourselves, we do not see how he can effect his laudable
\nobject. It would be possible for Srijut Surendranath and the other estimable
\nburgesses of Barrackpur to patrol the railway at night, but the weather is
\nstill cold, sleep is pleasant, bullets and cocoanuts perilous missiles, and, if
\nanything happens, the police are quite capable of suspecting and arresting the
\ntoo vigilant patrons of the public peace. One might revive the "National
\nVolunteers" for the purpose; but the Samities
\nare disbanded, students forbidden to take part in politics or do anything that
\nwould interfere with their studies. They are not likely to be enthusiastic for
\nthis kind of volunteer work under these conditions. And, if such organisations
\nwere created, it would be more likely to alarm than gratify a suspicious and
\nnervous Government which might see in it a disingenuous device for reviving
\nthe proclaimed Samities. The only other
\nresource is for these novel vigilance men to turn detective, discover the Terrorists
\nand give information to the police, which they can only do by becoming agents
\nprovocateurs<\/i> and so worming themselves into the confidence of their quarry.
\nThat is a kind of dirty work no Indian gentleman is likely to undertake even
\nwith the prospect of vindicating his loyalty, escaping house-searches and<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Page \u2013 365<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

deportation and earning the encomiums of the <\/font>
\n
\nEnglishman<\/i>.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n Postal
\n Precautions<\/a><\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sj. Aurobindo Ghose has recently received an anonymous letter
\ngiving him the momentous information that a certain Gopal
\nChandra Ray of the C.I.D. with
\nseveral assistants is busy watching 6 College Square and the Post Office and
\ncopying all the letters and postcards that come in his name without exception. Sj. Aurobindo has not the honour of the noble
\nGopal’s
\nacquaintance, nor is he even aware whether this gentleman has any corporeal
\nexistence. The letter may be a hoax; or it may be sent by one of the
\n"assistants", weary to death of copying letters and postcards and of
\nthe inclement and uncomfortable business of an open air watch fanned by the
\nbreezes of Goldighi in this season. It does
\nnot matter to the gentleman honoured by these attentions whether the whole
\npolice force occupy Goldighi for inquisitorial purposes or whether numerous
\neditions of his correspondence are turned out for the use of posterity by the
\ndisinterested labours of the C.I.D. Still, he has suggested to us certain
\nproposals to be placed before the Government in this connection and we proceed
\nto make them. In the first place, for the sake of humanity, a comfortable stall
\nmight be put up in the Square for the vigilant cow-keeper and his herd whence
\nthey could watch more happily and quite as effectively. Secondly, if the
\nGovernment would kindly instruct the Post Office not to lose one-tenth of Aurobindo Babu’s letters after copying them
\nand delay the greater part of the others, there would probably be no harm done
\nto the Empire. Thirdly, Sj. Aurobindo Ghose begs us to inform the authorities
\nthat he was never greatly in the habit of writing letters before and, after the
\nexposure of his private correspondence with his friends and family by the
\nprosecution in the Alipur case, he has
\nalmost dropped the practice except in urgent matters of business. It is
\npossible, therefore, for this part of the investigation to be carried on very
\ncheaply, and the Government must not be deceived by any representations on part
\nof Gopal or others that a big staff is wanted. Further, we are<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Page \u2013 366<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

instructed
\nto inform all intending correspondents of the above-mentioned facts so that
\nthey may not be disturbed or anxious about Sj. Aurobindo’s health if they get no answer to
\ntheir letters. Secondly, it would be advisable for them, when writing to him,
\nto forward a copy of the letter to the Secretary to the Bengal Government or to
\nMr. Denham of the C.I.D.
\nThirdly, if any one wishes to send by post specimens of bombs, revolvers, or
\nanything explosive or picric, or plans and estimates for a conspiracy or
\ninsurrection great or small, he had better send it either by hand or through
\nthe editors of the Statesman<\/i> or Englishman<\/i>. No reply need be
\nexpected.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Detective
\n Wiles<\/a><\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

While we are on
\nthis subject, we might suggest to the C.I.D. to train up a few spies and
\ninformers, send them for the completion of their education to France and then
\nappoint them as teachers in the College in India. Just now they do their work
\nvery clumsily. We may instance the case of an Eurasian or European gentleman
\nrejoicing in an Irish name or alias and a false address, who left his card on
\nSj. Aurobindo Ghose and then opened fire
\nwith a letter requesting the loan of a revolver, brand new and serviceable,
\nwithout which the Irish gentleman could not live any longer. Neither is it a
\ngood opening for acquaintance to come for
\nfinancial help to a man known to be himself the possessor of a very small
\nincome. To request advice how to serve the country or to become religious is a
\nmore plausible opening, but it ought to be followed up and sustained plausibly.
\nEven the wearing of the saffron robe need not be a passport to effusive
\nfriendship, unless there is something behind, and not always even then. We may
\nalso refer to the romantic story of the Dead Letter Office return published the
\nother day by Sj. Prabhaschandra Deb in the Hitabadi<\/i>. This precious script was curiously
\nenough addressed to Grey Street, without any number, in Prabhas Babu’s handwriting
\nand with his signature so exactly reproduced as to defy discrimination even by
\nan expert. As both Prabhas Babu and the
\npolice are well<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Page \u2013 367<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

aware
\nthat there is now no connection between Sj. Aurobindo and any number in Grey Street, it was
\nobviously the writer’s intention that it should go to the Dead Letter Office
\nand from there to the C.I.D. Prabhas Babu’s
\nsuggestion was not, as the Hitabadi<\/i>
\nreported, to send it to the Calcutta Police for inquiry, but to return it to
\nthe Dead Letter Office. Sj. Aurobindo preferred to consign it to the waste
\npaper basket as a more fitting repository. We cannot imagine any earthly use in
\nthese clumsy devices. Even Mr. Norton would find it difficult to make anything
\nof a forgery, however exact, more hopelessly suspicious even than the
\n"sweets" letter.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Page \u2013 3<\/font><\/span>68<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Facts and Opinions Volume I – Jan. 22, 1910 – Number 29 Lajpatrai’s Letters   The case of Parmanand, the Arya Samaj teacher, whom with…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1093","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-02-karmayogin-volume-02","wpcat-23-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1093","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1093"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1093\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1093"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1093"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1093"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}