{"id":2001,"date":"2013-07-13T01:38:50","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:38:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=2001"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:38:50","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:38:50","slug":"66-the-moderate-manifesto-vol-08-karmayogin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/03-cwsa\/08-karmayogin\/66-the-moderate-manifesto-vol-08-karmayogin","title":{"rendered":"-66_The Moderate Manifesto.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\n\n
\n

\n\t\t\tThe Moderate
\n\t\t\tManifesto <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTHE PRACTICAL exclusion of the educated
\nclasses, other than Mahomedans, landholders and titled grandees, from the new
\nCouncils and the preference of Mahomedans to Hindus has rung the death-knell of
\nthe old Moderate politics in India. If the Moderate party is to survive, it has
\nto shift its base and alter its tactics. If its leaders ignore the
\n\t\t\tstrong dissatisfaction and disillusionment felt by educated Hindus allover India
\nor if they tamely acquiesce in a reform which seems to have been deliberately
\nframed in order to transfer political preponderance from Hindus to Mahomedans and
\nfrom the representatives of the educated class to the landed aristocracy, they
\nwill very soon find themselves leaders without a following. The Moderate party at
\npresent is held together merely by the prestige and personal influence of the
\nsmall secret Junta of influential men who lead it, not by any settled convictions
\n\t\t\tor intelligent policy. The personalities of Mr. Gokhale and Sir
\n\t\t\tPherozshah Mehta
\nin Bombay, of Sj. Surendranath Banerji and Sj. Bhupendranath Bose in Bengal, of
\nPandit Madan Mohan Malaviya in the United Provinces, of Mr. Krishnaswamy Aiyar
\nin Madras constitute Moderatism in their respective provinces. What these old and
\nrespected leaders decide in their close and secret deliberations is accepted, no
\nlonger without cavilling, but still with a somewhat reluctant acquiescence
\nby their party. But the public mind has now been too deeply stirred for the
\nleaders to ignore the opinion of the country. The resignation by Sir Pherozshah
\nMehta of his Presidentship of the Lahore Convention following so soon after the
\n\t\t\tpublication of the Regulations, the speech of Mr. Gokhale at the Deccan Sabha
\nand the manifesto issued by the Calcutta Moderates are the first signs of the
\nembarrassment felt by the heads of the party. There can be no doubt that they
\n\t\t\thave<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tPage-356<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\tallowed themselves to be tools in the hands
\nof the officials and were not prepared for being thrown overboard as the
\nsole recompense. <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe speech of Mr. Gokhale shows the line along which
\n\t\t\tthe Bombay
\nModerate leaders desire to pilot their followers. It is the line chalked out for
\nthem by Lord Minto and other Anglo-Indian advisers. A great deal of feeling has
\nbeen created against Mr. Gokhale throughout the country by his justification of
\nthe "stern and relentless" measures employed by the Government against the
\nNationalist party and the Boycott movement and by the Bombay Government's use of
\nthe new repressive legislation to crush a personal adversary in Mr. Gokhale's
\ninterests. The Moderate leader has with a belated adroitness used the
\ndisqualification of the Nationalist, Mr. N. C. Kelkar, to rehabilitate himself,
\nif that be possible, by championing the cause of a political opponent. We do
\nnot know whether Mahratta sentiment will be shallow enough to be misled by this
\nmanoeuvre. The disqualification of Mr. Kelkar is an incident we welcome as again
\nto our cause. On the other hand, apart from the empty formula of protest and a
\nformal recognition of the sentiment of the country against the defects of the
\nmeasure, the speech is merely a repetition of Lord Minto's appeal to give this
\n\t\t\tvicious, injurious and insulting measure a fair chance, \u2013on the very
\n\t\t\tshadowy
\npossibility to which the Moderate leaders still profess to cling, that all this
\nalloy will be changed to pure gold in the next three years. Mr. Gokhale is still
\nthe political henchman of Lord Minto and echoes his sentiments with a pathetic
\n\t\t\tfidelity. <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe manifesto of the Moderate leaders in Calcutta is
\n\t\t\tof more importance.
\nThe Bengal veterans have not yet lost caste by publicly turning against their
\ncountrymen and approving Government repression; they still keep some touch with
\n\t\t\tpublic sentiment and have not yielded body and soul to the rallying call of
\nLord Morley. Even so fervid an anti-Nationalist as Dr. Rash Behari Ghose, to the
\ngreat discontent and surprise of the Englishman<\/i>, has signed the
\ndocument. The manifesto shows a clear sense of the shortcomings of the
\n\t\t\tmeasure of reform which was acclaimed with such gratitude by these<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tPage-357<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\tsame able politicians when the skeleton had not been filled
\n\t\t\tin with its present generous padding. It is to be regretted that a false note has
\nbeen struck by the reference to the modification of one clause and the
\ncomplaint that the "relief" thus afforded was insignificant and many
\ndistinguished men would still be barred out of the Council. Are the distinguished
\n\t\t\tmen of Bengal paupers cringing for personal doles that this kind of
\n\t\t\tlanguage
\nshould be used or this kind of argument advanced? We cannot congratulate the
\nframer of the manifesto either on the form or the matter of this unhappy
\nsentence. The recognition of class and creed as a basis of representation, the
\n\t\t\texclusion of popular interests in favour of the dignified elements
\n\t\t\tin the
\ncommunity, the illusory nature of the non-official majority, the limitation of
\nthe functions of the Councils to criticism without control and the denial of
\nfreedom of election are the real gravamen of the charges against Lord
\nMorley's measure, and the barring out of certain distinguished men is a mere
\nincident which can certainly be used in newspaper articles and speeches as an
\nindication of motive, but ought not to have been introduced into a grave document
\nof this nature. The effective representation of the people, the preservation
\nof sound democratic principles of representation in the formation of the
\nelectorates and freedom of election are the objects disinterested and patriotic
\nmen should hold before them, not the privilege of entry into the Councils for
\ndistinguished men. <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBut while the manifesto contains a full and exhaustive statement
\nof the objections to the Reform, it is silent as the grave with regard to the
\npractical methods which the Moderate leaders propose to adopt in order to bring
\nabout real reform. Will they follow the Bombay lead? Will they strikeout a line
\nof their own? At the close of the manifesto there is a pious expression of
\nindomitable hope characteristic of the Moderate party, the party of obstinate
\nillusions; the signatories, it seems, do not despair of the Government
\n\t\t\tseeing the error of their ways and modifying the regulations so as
\n\t\t\tto restore Lord
\nMorley's original scheme. There is something<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tPage-358<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\theroic
\nin this desperate absence of despair. It reminds us of the most heroic passage in
\nRoman history when, after the massacre of Cannae, the beaten general and cause of
\nthe disaster returned an almost solitary fugitive to Rome, preferring flight to
\na soldier's death, and the whole Roman senate came out to meet him and thank him
\nthat he had not despaired of his country. What is it that the Moderate leaders
\n\t\t\thope? Do they hope that the regulations will be so modified as to
\n\t\t\tadmit all the
\ndistinguished men whom they are interested in seeing at their back in the
\nCouncils? Or do they hope that the fundamental defects we have enumerated will
\n\t\t\tbe removed by a sort of spontaneous repentance and confession of original sin on
\nthe part of the Government? If so, what other basis have they for their incurable
\nhopefulness except the faculty of the chameleon for living on unsubstantial
\n\t\t\tair? The modifications of which they speak are not modifications,
\n\t\t\tbut a radical
\nalteration of the whole spirit and details of the measure. <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWe also do not despair
\nof a wholesome change in the attitude of the Government, but we do not believe in
\npolitical miracles. There is no progress in politics except by the play of cause
\nand effect, and if we want a particular effect, we must first create the suitable
\nand effective cause. The only cause that can bring about so radical a change
\n\t\t\tin the attitude of the Government is the failure of this misbegotten scheme and
\nthe necessity of substituting one better conceived and more liberal. And the
\nonly way to bring about the failure and the consequent necessity is to focus the
\nwhole opposition of the Hindu interest and the popular interest, with whatever
\nMahomedan assistance we can get, in a movement of abstention from the present
\nCouncils and an active agitation by effective means for the recognition of the
\ngreat democratic principles that have been ignored and the formation of a new
\nscheme after consultation with the popular leaders. This, it seems to us, is a
\nlegitimate sphere of activity for a strong and self-respecting Moderate party.
\n\t\t\tBut
\nif they stultify themselves by accepting in any way a<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tPage-359<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\tmeasure designed to reduce them to nullity or
\n\t\t\timpotence, they
\nwill commit suicide. Their empty protests against the defects of the Bill will be
\nrecognised as meaningless, for they will have deprived themselves of their only
\n\t\t\tleverage for remedying the defects. The country has no room any
\n\t\t\tlonger for a party
\nof mere sanguine expectancy and help-less dependence on the will of superior
\npower. Moderatism at present is a mass of ill-defined aspirations,
\n\t\t\tungrounded hopes and helpless methods leading to perpetual and repeated
\ndisappointment, increasing weakness and deepening self-discontent. No party vowed
\nto these uninspiring methods and depressing experiences can hope to survive at a
\n\t\t\ttime when political life is becoming more and more vivid and real. The Moderates
\nmust give up their vague unpracticality and adopt a definite aim, a distinct
\nprogramme, effective methods. <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWe do not know whether the Moderate leaders could
\n\t\t\tever bring themselves so far as to stand out for a real measure of control as
\ndistinguished from a wider power of criticism. But there is no reason why they
\nshould not make up their minds to fight for a popular electorate based on
\n\t\t\teducation, exclusive of class and religious distinctions, free election
\n\t\t\tand an
\nelective majority, and refuse to be satisfied with less. In that case, the
\nNationalist party would represent a more advanced force standing out for a
\nmeasure of effective control and a democratic electorate based on literacy, in
\naddition to the Moderate demands. If, on the other hand, the Moderates would
\nalso accept control as a necessary factor of any political settlement, Moderate
\nand Nationalist would again come into line and stand on a common platform, the
\n\t\t\tonly distinction being that one party would accept the settlement as a
\nsatisfactory solution for the present, while the other would regard it merely as
\nan instrument for developing autonomy. But while the exclusory clauses of the
\n\t\t\tModerate Convention’s Constitution remain, this drawing together is
\n\t\t\tnot possible,
\nor, if it were possible, could not be sincere and effective. Those clauses are a
\nsign and pledge of the Mehta-Morley<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tPage-360<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\talliance and
\nratify the policy of which Mr. Gokhale's Poona speech was the expression, the
\npolicy of rallying the Moderates to the Government's support and crushing
\nthe Nationalists. <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOTHER WRITINGS BY SRI AUROBINDO IN THIS
\n\t\t\tISSUE <\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe National Value
\nof Art V <\/font><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnandamath XI (continued) <\/font>\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tEpiphany (poem)<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tPage-361<\/font><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Moderate Manifesto   THE PRACTICAL exclusion of the educated classes, other than Mahomedans, landholders and titled grandees, from the new Councils and the preference…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-08-karmayogin","wpcat-44-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2001","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=2001"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2001\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}