{"id":2851,"date":"2013-07-13T01:44:11","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=2851"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:44:11","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:44:11","slug":"71-bande-mataram-8-5-07-vol-06-07-bande-mataram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/03-cwsa\/06-07-bande-mataram\/71-bande-mataram-8-5-07-vol-06-07-bande-mataram","title":{"rendered":"-71_Bande Mataram 8-5-07.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\n\n
\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t
\n\tBande Mataram<\/font><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t
\n\t{
\n\tCALCUTTA, May 8th, 1907 }
\n\t<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t <\/p>\n

\n
\nCurzonism for the University
\n<\/b>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nAt last the Brahmastra which Lord Curzon forged for the stifling of patriotism through the instrumentality of the University, is to
\nbe utilised, and utilised to its full capacity. We all remember the particular skirmish in the first Swadeshi struggle in which Sir
\nBampfylde Fuller fell. Sir Bampfylde insisted on the disaffiliation of the Serajgunge Schools because the teachers and students
\nwere publicly taking part in politics. Lord Minto’s Government refused to support him in this action because it was inadvisable, having regard to the troubled nature of the times, and Sir Bampfylde had to resign. Whatever stronger motives were
\nbehind Lord Minto’s action, this was the ostensible occasion for a resignation which practically amounted to a dismissal. Now we
\nfind the same Government and the same Lord Minto outfullering Fuller and threatening in much more troubled times against
\nall Government or aided or affiliated Colleges and Schools the action which Sir Bampfylde contemplated against only two.
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\nThe circular letter issued to the local Governments “with the object of protecting Higher Education in India” from any
\nconnection with politics, is an awkward and clumsily worded document such as we would not have expected from the pen of
\nSir H. Risley, but it manages to make its object and methods pretty clear. The object is to put a stop to the system of National
\nVolunteers which is growing up throughout Bengal, to use the Universities as an instrument for stifling the growth of political
\nlife and incidentally to prevent men of ability and influence in the educational line from becoming a political power. This is
\nhow Lord Minto, presumably with the approval of Mr. John Morley, proposes to bring about these objects. The objects of 
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

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\n

\n their benevolent and high-minded attention are divided into
\nfour classes, schoolboys, college students, schoolmasters, professors, and for each a scientifically varied treatment is carefully
\nprescribed.
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\n \tFor students in high schools, “In the interest of the boys
\nthemselves, it is clearly undesirable that they should be distracted from their work by attending political meetings or engaging in
\nany form of political agitation. In the event of such misconduct being persisted in and encouraged or permitted by masters or
\nmanaging authorities, the offending school can after due warning be dealt with\u2014 (a) by the local Government, which has
\nthe power of withdrawing any grant-in-aid and of withholding the privilege of competing for scholarships and of receiving
\nscholarship-holders; (b) by the University, which can withdraw recognition from the school, the effect of which is to prevent it
\nfrom sending up pupils as candidates for matriculation examination.” Students in high schools are therefore to be debarred
\nfrom all political education and brought up on an exclusive diet of Lee-Warner and Empire Day. Attending political meetings,
\noutside school hours, mind you, and, it may be, with the full consent of the guardians, is to be reckoned as misconduct coming within the scope of school discipline. It is to be punished by the disciplining, that is to say, the flogging or expulsion of
\nthe boys. But what if the teachers or the managing authorities remember that they are men and not dogs who for a little food
\nfrom the Government are ready to do its will just or unjust? What if they decline to do the Government’s dirty work for it?
\nThen the local magistrate appears on the scene and takes away the grant-in-aid and the privilege of competing for scholarships
\nand of receiving scholarship-holders. But supposing there should still be found a Vidyasagar or two who would contemptuously
\nspurn these bribes and prefer to keep his manhood? For that also this provident circular has provided. The school can be refused
\nrecognition, a refusal which will mean exclusion of its students from a college education. For this purpose the local Government
\nwill report to the University “which alone is legally competent to inflict the requisite penalty”. But if this sole legal authority 
\n\t<\/span> <\/p>\n

\n\t <\/p>\n

\n\t
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\n

\n\tshould decline to act on the report of the local Government?
\nThen, it appears, there is another sole authority which is legally or illegally competent, the Government itself. The report is to be
\nunderstood not as a report but as an order, and if it is disobeyed, the University “would fail to carry out the educational trust with
\nwhich the law has invested it, and it would be the duty of the Government to intervene”.
\n\t<\/span> <\/p>\n

\n\tThe next class is composed of university students. In their case the Government is not prepared to punish them, as a general
\nrule, for merely attending political meetings. We take it that, in special cases, e.g. if it were a meeting addressed by Srijut Bipin
\nChandra Pal or Syed Haidar Reza or Mr. Tilak, they will not be punished. But if they take an active part in the meeting,
\nthen the need for discipline will begin. Any action which will bring undesirable notoriety upon their college, will be sufficient
\nground for Government interference. Picketing is of course forbidden to the student and so is open violence\u2014 such for instance
\nas the defence of his father’s house, person and property from Mahomedan goondas
\n<\/i>or of the chastity of his wife, sister or
\nmother from violation by political hooligans.
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\n\tThe schoolmaster is mercifully treated. He is graciously
\nconceded the right of having his own opinions and even of expressing them within limits set by the alien bureaucracy. “If,
\ntherefore, the public utterances of a schoolmaster are of such a character as to endanger the orderly development of the boys
\nunder his charge by introducing into their immature minds doctrines subversive of their respect for authority and calculated to
\nimpair their usefulness as citizens and to hinder their advancement in after life, his proceedings must be held to constitute
\na dereliction of duty, and may properly be visited with disciplinary action.” In plain unofficial English the schoolmaster will
\nbe allowed to teach loyalty and subservience, but if he teaches patriotism, he must be suspended, degraded or dismissed. If he
\ntakes his pupils or encourages them to go to political meetings,\u2014 barring celebrations of the Empire Day,\u2014 he will, of course,
\nbe dismissed at once. Finally the College Professors, men like Srijuts Surendranath Banerji, Aswini Kumar Dutta, Krishna Kumar 
\n\t<\/span> <\/p>\n

\n\t <\/p>\n

\n\t
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\n

\n Mitra, are not to be altogether gagged, but their hands are to be
\nbound. “If he diverts his students’ minds to political agitation,” as Srijut Surendranath has done for decades, “if he encourages
\nthem to attend political meetings or personally” conducts them to such meetings,\u2014 this is obviously aimed at Srijut Krishna
\nKumar Mitra and the Anti-Circular Society\u2014 “or if he adopts a line of action which disturbs and disorganises the life and
\nwork of the College at which he is employed”,\u2014 whatever this portentous phrase may mean,\u2014 the College is to be disaffiliated
\nor the offender expelled.
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\n This ukase out-Russias Russia. Not even in Russia have
\nsuch systematically drastic measures been taken to discourage political life and patriotic activity among the young. Not even
\nthe omnipotent Tsar has dared to issue an ukase so arbitrary, oppressive and inquisitorial. It means that no self-respecting
\npatriot will in future enter or remain in the Government educational service in any position of responsibility; or if he remains,
\nhe will not be allowed to remain long. It means that the position of private schools and colleges will become unbearable and they
\nwill be compelled to break off connection with the Government University. It means, if there is a grain of self-respect left in
\nthe country, that the Government University will perish and a National University be developed. And for this reason we welcome the circular and hope that its provisions will be stringently enforced.
\n\t<\/span> <\/p>\n

\n __________<\/span><\/p>\n

\n  <\/p>\n

\n
\n Incompetence or Connivance <\/b>
\n\t<\/span><\/p>\n

\n  <\/p>\n

\n The question has been raised whether the action of the officials in
\nMymensingh amounts to incompetence or connivance. In face of the open partiality of these bureaucrats, their severity to Hindus
\nand leniency to Mahomedans, it seems absurd to ask the question. To arrest the leading local Hindus
\nen masse <\/i>and leave the
\nMahomedans untouched, although influential local Mahomedans have been publicly charged by name with fomenting riots;
\nto loot houses and cutcherries under the pretence of search with 
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\n  <\/p>\n

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\n

\n\ta Mahomedan mob at their back; to institute rigorous enquiry
\ninto the wounding of a Mahomedan and none into the death of a Hindu; to turn a deaf ear to appeals for help from threatened
\nHindus in the villages and delay action till the looting and outrage have been accomplished; to look on inactive in the face of
\na surging Mahomedan tumult and be on the alert when there is a rumour of Hindu retaliation;\u2014 all this is not incompetence,
\nbut connivance. We could have understood it, if the authorities had been equally supine and helpless in dealing with Hindus as
\nwith Mahomedans, but this is not the case. Compare the action of the Government in the Punjab with that of the Government
\nin Bengal. In the Punjab, because there was a popular riot, all the leading Hindu gentlemen have been arrested on outrageous
\ncharges, the town held by cavalry, siege-guns pointed upon it, the police ordered to butcher any group of five to be seen in
\nthe streets or public places. If the East Bengal Nawabs and Maulavis had been similarly treated and similar measures taken
\nin Jamalpur, we could have admired the impartial, if ferocious energy of the bureaucracy. Compare again the action in Bengal
\nitself. A rumour is spread that the Hindus would attack the Mahomedan piece-goods shops in Comilla; at once Mr. Lees
\nposts constables and himself stands on guard over the bazaar. A rumour is spread that the Jamalpur accused are coming up
\nwith an army of volunteers and the Gurkhas are out to receive them on the station. Compare this with the action against
\nMahomedan riot. “Armed police have been sent only after the occurrence. The authorities are taking no preventive measures.
\nThe Magistrate is sending Gurkhas and constables after everything has been finished.” This phenomenon has been more than
\nonce repeated. “All shops at Bakshiganj, Mymensingh, have been looted and papers destroyed. The Image of Kali has been
\nbroken to pieces;” but “I hear that a regular enquiry is not taking place in the Bakshiganj case. Some of the accused who
\nwere arrested, have been let off. First informations have not been taken in all the cases.” Or take this suggestive telegram
\nfrom Rangpur District: “The rowdy Mahomedans of the locality gathered and looted Bakshiganj Bazar and the houses of several 
\n\t<\/span> <\/p>\n

\n\t <\/p>\n

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\n

\n Hindu residents of Charkaseria. Females were outraged. The
\nlooting continued from noon to midnight<\/i>.” Looting of Hindus accompanied by outrages on their women may continue from
\nnoon to midnight, and no one thinks it his business to interfere; but a few Mahomedan shops were supposed to be threatened
\nand a British Magistrate at once appears on the scene.
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\n __________<\/span><\/p>\n

\n  <\/p>\n

\n
\n Soldiers and Assaults
\n<\/b>
\n\t<\/span><\/p>\n

\n  <\/p>\n

\n The Englishman <\/i>has after much deliberation decided to open a fund in aid of the soldiers who the other day attacked an Indian
\nand assaulted him and was fined Rs. 150 by the Magistrate. The appeal for help is made at the fag end of a long article which
\nopens thus:\u2014
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\n “The private soldier in a large Indian town such as Calcutta
\nhas many disabilities and not less temptations. The nature of his occupation leaves him a certain amount of leisure, and it is
\nnot to be expected that he should be a man of sufficient culture to spend this leisure in literary pursuits. He sallies forth for a
\nwalk, during the course of which he is only too frequently the object of undesirable attention of both a quasi-friendly and an
\nopenly hostile kind. Our experience of the excellent Mr. Atkins goes to show that he is as a rule an extremely well-behaved man,
\nchivalrous and kindly in his way, and certainly by no means a swaggering, hectoring bully. Yet he inevitably on occasion comes
\ninto unpleasant contact with the natives of the country.”
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\n Then the Hare Street journal says that petty dealers and
\nhucksters take advantage of the soldier’s ignorance of the language and other disabilities and attempt to cheat him, an “attempt which if discovered leads to the most natural resentment on the part of the victim. This resentment may be, in default of
\nthe power of vernacular expression, translated into action, but is the soldier to blame?” Certainly not. And as a white man,
\nhe has every right to assault the Indian who is, in the words of Kipling, the Banjo Bard of the Empire, no more than “half-devil,
\nhalf-child”. Belonging to a race that makes laws the soldier has  <\/span> <\/p>\n

\n\t <\/p>\n

\n\t
\n\tPage \u2013 390<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n\tthe power to take the law into his own hand when dealing with
\n“natives”. And the Englishman <\/i>is sure that “his behaviour is as a rule admirable and reflects credit on the man and the service.”
\nThe man, of course, is worthy of the service. If attempts to cheat are to be punished with blows by the victim, why, Clive
\nshould have been the first Englishman to suffer at the hand of Omichand. We are sorry the wisdom of the
\nEnglishman <\/i>was
\nnot shared by Justice Norris who tried the O’Hara case, nor by Lord Curzon who was constrained to punish an entire regiment
\nfor misconduct, nor by the Bengal Government in the matter of the Barrackpur shooting case. But we do not quarrel with the
\nEnglishman <\/i>for supporting the soldiers. We are convinced misconduct on their part will not cease till we learn to retaliate. Our
\nduty lies clear before us\u2014 to organize measures of self-defence and determine to have tooth for tooth and eye for eye. 
\n\t<\/span> <\/p>\n

\n\t <\/p>\n

\n\t
\n\tPage \u2013 391<\/font><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bande Mataram { CALCUTTA, May 8th, 1907 }   Curzonism for the University   At last the Brahmastra which Lord Curzon forged for the stifling…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2851","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-06-07-bande-mataram","wpcat-54-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2851","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=2851"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2851\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2851"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2851"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2851"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}