{"id":273,"date":"2013-07-13T01:27:02","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=273"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:27:02","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:27:02","slug":"035-the-writing-on-the-wall-vol-01-bande-mataram-volume-01","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/01-sabcl\/01-bande-mataram-volume-01\/035-the-writing-on-the-wall-vol-01-bande-mataram-volume-01","title":{"rendered":"-035_The Writing on the Wall.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n

\n
\nThe
\nWriting on the Wall<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n  <\/font><\/b>               
\n<\/font>
\n<\/span>W<\/font><\/b><\/span>HEN<\/b>
\nthings violent or fearful take place let no one be alarmed or discouraged
\n\u2014<\/span> they
\nalso are "His goings forth". That there will be only the piping time
\nof peace and we shall sing of the cuckoo and the spring is expecting something
\nunnatural. An individual or a nation cannot rise to its full height except
\nthrough trouble and stress. The stone block patiently submits to hammering,
\ncutting and chiselling to be made into the statue which pleases the eye and
\ngladdens the soul. If it could feel, it certainly would say, "How dearly I
\nhave to pay for the beautiful transformation." This is the inexorable law
\nof nature. Nature has not yet been known to relent in this respect. If you want
\nto get anything grand and beautiful out of her, you must go through the process
\nthrough which a piece of stone passes before it is endowed with shape, beauty
\nand meaning. The fertilising river rolls down stones, breaks through the
\nimpediments, rends asunder the surface of the earth before it bears on its bosom
\nthe argosies and crowns the bordering lands with plenty. Those who cannot look
\nthis sternness of nature in the face are not destined for things good, noble and
\nhigh. If you want to grovel in the dust, indolence, ease and ignoble peace may
\ndo, but if climbing up the heights of glory is your ambition learn to encounter
\ndifficulties and dangers manfully. This is apt to be ignored and ridiculed as a
\ncopybook maxim. But it bears repetition times without number and when either an
\nindividual or a nation sets about anything earnestly it should start fully
\nimpressed with the truth of this copybook commonplace. The truth cannot be
\nconfirmed enough and thus the threats of the Anglo-Indian Press have hardly any
\nterror for us.
\n   
\nThe Anglo-Indian Press whenever they find that their arguments are seen through,
\nthat what is at the back of their minds is at once discovered, that their
\nprofessions and protestations are taken at their worth, fall to using threats
\nand throw out dark<\/font><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPage-<\/font><\/span>241<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nhints
\nas if the people do not know that they cannot regain their independence without
\na fearful struggle. The Anglo-Indian Press are really nervous at our getting at
\nthe truth about political salvation and their arguments about our weakness and
\nincompetency backed by the opinion of the moderate school of politicians in the
\ncountry are systematically alternated with the arguments of fire and sword. When
\nthey cannot coax us into acquiescing in servitude, they want to argue us into it
\nand failing that too, they brandish the sword. The London Times<\/i>, <\/i>its
\nnamesake in Bombay, the Pioneer<\/i>, <\/i>the Englishman<\/i>, <\/i>all tried to win
\nover the Congress suddenly changing their attitude of supreme contempt towards
\nthe National Assembly of a quarter of a century’s standing. But as soon as the
\nnews that the extremist programme found favour with the 22nd National Congress
\nwas flashed across the seas, the "Thunderer" at once cabled to us that
\nIndia was won by the sword and will in the last resort be held by the sword.
\nSince then these Anglo-Indian Journals are trying both mild and violent ways.
\nThe more the desire for independence seems to be in evidence, the more the signs
\nof the times point to that direction, the more they gnash their teeth, tear
\ntheir hair and beat their breast. At every fresh proof of reawakening more blood
\nis sent to their eyes and head. Their conduct gives the lie direct to the
\nvaunted profession \u2014<\/span>
\n<\/span>that the English people are everywhere the
\nupholders, the representatives, the leaders of the two great
\ninterests
\nof a people <\/span>\u2014<\/span>
\nFreedom and Justice. The demand of the <\/span>Egyptian
\nGeneral Assembly has only provoked their laughter. The granting of a
\nconstitution to Persia is according to them a move in the wrong direction. They
\nhave given the Amir a taste of the flirtation of Western civilisation. They want
\nto retain their spell over those whom they have already enthralled and are ever
\nin quest of fresh victims. Surrender your life, your liberty, your birth-rights
\nto the English nation, go on ministering to their comforts and pleasures and you
\nare credited with common sense, prudence, intelligence and all other mental
\nequipments. But if you think of making any strides in the direction of manhood
\n\u2014 if you take it into your head to hold your own in the conflict of
\ninterests
\n<\/span>\u2014<\/span>
\nif you show the least sign of walking with your head <\/span>erect
\nyou are damned wretches fit for the jail and gallows because<\/font><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPage-242<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nit
\nhas been settled once for all in the wise dispensations of Providence, that you
\nare to sow and they are to reap, that you are to buy and they are to sell, that
\nyou are to be killed and they are to kill, that you are to be deprived of arms
\nwhile they are to be in their full possession, that you will use arms for
\nnefarious purposes while they will wield them to defend themselves. What else
\ncan these ridiculous effusions of the Calcutta Englishman <\/i>mean? :<\/font><\/p>\n


\n           
\n<\/font>
\n<\/span>"Diligent students of newspapers in this part of the world can
\nhardly fail to have been
\nstruck by the fact that firearms are now being frequently used in the commission
\nof crime. They have been produced in the case of riots, and within a few days no
\nless than three cases have been reported of persons shot dead by others who
\nordinarily should not have been in the possession of rifles or guns. When a
\nMaharaja, particularly a friend of Europeans and officials<\/i>, <\/i>is shot from behind a hedge and the Police
\nSuperintendent of a District has a bullet whistling over his head, the time has
\ncome to enquire by what means criminal or fanatical persons on this side of
\nIndia manage to possess themselves of fire-arms. Recent cases in the Police
\nCourt show that it is by no means impossible for transfers of revolver and the
\nlike to take place by private sale. Any unscrupulous or indigent European can
\nsell a weapon to an Indian without the police being aware of the fact (how can
\nthey be aware?) and the question arises whether the punishment for a breach of
\nthis kind of the Arms Act should not be made absolutely deterrent. Further, as
\nwitness the case at Garden Reach, burglars and thieves are learning when they
\nbreak into a house, that the most valuable property in it are not jewels or
\nmoney, but guns, rifles, and revolvers. The latter have even been stolen from so
\nsecure a place as Fort William. All this points to the fact that a demand for
\nweapons has suddenly arisen in Bengal. One would naturally like to know why.
\nSome people will find no hesitation in accepting the reply that the demand has
\nbeen caused by those Bengali newspapers and other preachers of sedition who
\nproclaim that the people of this country ought to perfect themselves in military
\nexercises and the use of arms. Bande Mataram <\/i>yesterday boldly said that
\nIndians must develop the virtues of the Kshatriya, the warrior<\/font><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPage-243<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

caste. ‘The first virtue of the Kshatriya is not to bow
\nhis neck to an unjust yoke but to protect his weak and suffering countrymen
\nagainst the oppressor and welcome death in a just and righteous battle.\u2019 This
\nkind of stuff, of course, is often harmless; but when we consider the lengths to
\nwhich the boycotters have already gone, is it too much to suppose that some
\nfanatics will go to some trouble in providing themselves with arms even if their
\ncourage halts there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\n           
\n<\/font>
\n<\/span>But we reiterate with all the emphasis we can command that the Kshatriya
\nof old must again take his rightful position in our social polity to discharge
\nthe first and foremost duty of defending its interests. The brain is impotent
\nwithout the right arm of strength. India is now conscious of this long-forgotten
\ntruth. And the hand must hold up-to-date arms. And where the arms cannot be
\nprocured in a fair way, people are driven to underhand methods, not to kill
\ntheir own men as the Englishman <\/i>designedly insinuates, but to protect
\ntheir life and limb, home and hearth, as they had to do at Comilla, as they will
\nshortly have to do at Mymensingh. An awakened nation consults its necessity and
\nproceeds to the invention. The song that nerves the nation’s heart is in itself
\na deed. That song may lead to persecution but as the Punjabee <\/i>has said,
\n"Today we are in the firing line, but our recruits are at our back — ready
\nto take our places the moment we drop down." This music can no longer be
\nsilenced and keeping time with it the coming Kshatriya is forging his thunder
\nregardless of the fretting and fuming of the Englishman<\/i>. <\/i>The writings on
\nthe wall are getting distinct and the Englishman <\/i>knows no peace.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n


\nBande Mataram<\/i>,
\n<\/i> <\/font> April 8, 1907<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nA
\nNil-admirari Admirer<\/font><\/a><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n


\n <\/font> <\/font><\/p>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

\nThe
\nsplendid speech of Srinath Pal has at last found an admirer in the Nil-admirari
\nEditor of the Indian Nation<\/i>. <\/i>What is more wonderful still is that the
\nveteran cynic who had up to now directed all his energies in running down
\nSurendranath has now<\/font><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPage-<\/font><\/span>244<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nsuddenly
\ndiscovered that "Surendranath is the most prominent man on this side of the
\ncountry".<\/font><\/p>\n


\n           
\n<\/font>
\n<\/span>The poor President of the Conference who committed the unpardonable sin
\nof differing from the omniscient Editor of the Indian Nation <\/i>in his ideas
\nof nationalism, has come .in for a liberal share of abuse. He does not
\nunderstand the difference in the ideals of the two parties; he fails to find
\nwherein Mr. Tilak’s nationalism differs from that of Mr. Gokhale. He fancies he
\nhad been cherishing and nursing the national spirit \u2014 and this disgust at the
\nvery name of the nation is the result. Even Homer nods; and the wise Editor of
\nthe Indian Nation <\/i>and his other compatriots have to be told that the
\nsupreme test of nationalism is a belief in the future of the nation and a love
\nfor it \u2014 with all its weaknesses.<\/font><\/p>\n


\n           
\n<\/font>
\n<\/span>As for the scurrility of the New Party organs, we beg to remind this
\nEnglish scholar that even the genial smile of Addison cut the offending section
\nof the public to the bone.<\/font><\/p>\n


\nBande Mataram<\/i>,
\n<\/i> <\/font> April 9, 1907<\/font><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPage-<\/font>245<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Writing on the Wall                    WHEN things violent or fearful take place let no one be alarmed or discouraged \u2014 they also are…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-01-bande-mataram-volume-01","wpcat-8-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273","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=273"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/273\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}