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The Political Future of India by Lajpat Rai
The Political Future of India by Lajpat Rai
NEW YORK B. W. HUEBSCH MCMXIX COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY B. W. HUEBSCH PRINTED IN U.S.A. TO MY FRIEND COLONEL JOSIAH WEDGWOOD, M. P., D. S. O. My book, Young India , was written during the first year of the war and was finally revised and sent to the press before the war was two years old. It concluded with the following observation: “The Indians are a chivalrous people; they will not disturb England as long as she is engaged with Germany. The struggle after the war might, however, be even more bitter
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CAUSES OF THE UPHEAVAL.
CAUSES OF THE UPHEAVAL.
“Bombay, April 20.—We have passed through the most anxious ten days that India has known for half a century. We have further anxious days in store, for although in Bombay conditions are improving and Mr. Gandhi has publicly abandoned the passive resistance movement, while men of weight are rallying to the support of the Government, the situation in Northern India is disquieting. “We may pause to enquire into this widespread manifestation of violence. How came it that passive resistance to the Ro
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PROFITEERING AND TRICKERY.
PROFITEERING AND TRICKERY.
“The Act was wickedly perverted by the Extremists until among the common people it became the general belief that it gave plenary powers to a police which was feared and distrusted. Among educated people, few of whom studied the report or the Act, it was bitterly resented as a badge of India’s subjection after loyal participation in the war, at a time when the strongest feeling in the country was craving for its self-respect in the eyes of the nations. Further, it was regarded as prejudicing the
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REVOLUTIONARY INSPIRATION
REVOLUTIONARY INSPIRATION
“So much for the general situation. In Northern India the outbreaks were nakedly revolutionary. They are unconnected with the Rowlatt Act or with passive resistance, which probably precipitated a movement long concerted. There is abundant evidence of the organized revolutionary character of the dis turbances in the systematic attacks on railways, telegraphs, and all means of communication, and its definitely anti-British character is apparent from the efforts to plunge the railways into a genera
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No. 1
No. 1
Whereas the Government of India has for good reasons proclaimed Martial Law in the districts of Lahore and Amritsar; and Whereas superior military authority has appointed me to command troops and administer Martial Law in a portion of the Lahore district, ... and whereas Martial Law may be briefly described as the will of the Military Commander in enforcing law, order and public safety: I make known to all concerned that until further orders by me the following will be strictly carried out: 1. A
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No. 2
No. 2
All tongas and tum-tums, (horse carriages) whether licensed for hire or otherwise, will be delivered up to the Military Officer appointed for that purpose at the Punjab Light Horse ground by 17·00 (5 P.M. ) to-day—Tuesday, 15th April. Drivers will receive pay and horses be rationed....
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No. 3
No. 3
All motor-cars or vehicles of any descriptions will be delivered to the Military Officer appointed for that purpose at the Punjab club by 17·00 (5 P.M. ) this day....
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No. 4
No. 4
By virtue of the powers vested in me I have prohibited the issue of third or intermediate class tickets at all railway stations in the Lahore Civil Command, except only in the case of servants travelling with their European masters or servants or others in the employ of the Government ....
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No. 5
No. 5
Whereas, from information received by me, it would appear that shops, generally known as Langars, for the sale of cooked food, are used for the purpose of illegal meetings, and for the dissemination of seditious propaganda , and whereas I notice that all other shops (particularly in Lahore city) have been closed as part of an organized demonstration against his Majesty’s Government, now, therefore, by virtue of the powers vested in me under Martial Law, I order that all such Langars or shops for
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No. 7
No. 7
Whereas I have reason to believe that certain students of the D. A. V. College in Lahore are engaged in spreading seditious propaganda directed against his Majesty’s Government, and whereas I deem it expedient in the interests of the preservation of law and order to restrict the activities of such students, I make the following order:— All students of the said college now in this Command area will report themselves to the Officer Commanding Troops at the Bradlaugh Hall daily at the hours specifi
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No. 8
No. 8
Whereas some evilly-disposed persons have torn down or defaced notices and orders which I have caused to be exhibited for infor mation and good government of the people in the Lahore (Civil) Command. In future all orders that I have to issue under Martial Law will be handed to such owners of property as I may select and it will be the duty of such owners of property to exhibit and keep exhibited and undamaged in the position on their property selected by me all such orders . The duty of protecti
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No. 13
No. 13
Whereas information laid before me shows that a martial law notice issued by me and posted by my orders on a property known as the Sanatan Dharam College Hostel on Bahawalpur road, has been torn or otherwise defaced, in contravention of my Martial Law Notice No. 8. Now, therefore, by virtue of the powers vested in me under martial law, I order the immediate arrest of all male persons domiciled in the said hostel and their internment in the Lahore Fort pending my further orders as to their trial
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No. 14
No. 14
Whereas practically every shop and business establishment in the area under my command has been closed in accordance with the hartal or organized closure of business directed against his Majesty’s Government. And whereas the continuance or resumption of such hartal is detrimental to the good order and governance of the said area. And whereas I deem it expedient to cause the said hartal to entirely cease: Now therefore by virtue of the powers vested in me by martial law I make the following order
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No. 15
No. 15
Whereas it has come to my knowledge that the present state of unrest is being added to and encouraged by the spreading of false, inaccurate or exaggerated reports or rumours: Now, therefore, by virtue of the powers vested in me by martial law I give notice that any person found guilty of publishing, spreading or repeating, false, inaccurate or exaggerated reports in connection with the military or political situation, will be arrested and summarily dealt with under martial law....
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No. 16
No. 16
Whereas I have reason to believe that certain students of the Dyal Singh College in Lahore are engaged in spreading seditious propaganda directed against his Majesty’s Government and whereas I deem it expedient in the interest of the preservation of law and order to restrict the activities of such students, I make the following order:— All students of the said college now in this command area will report themselves to the officer commanding troops at the telegraph office daily at the hours speci
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No. 24
No. 24
Whereas I deem it expedient to make provision for the preservation of health and the greater comfort of British troops stationed in the area under my command, And whereas a number of electric fans and lights are required in the buildings in which some of such troops are quartered, Now therefore by virtue of the powers vested in me by martial law I authorize any officer appointed by me for that purpose to enter any college, public building, hostel, hotel, private or other residence or building an
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I INTRODUCTORY
I INTRODUCTORY
Now we are faced with the greatest and the grimmest struggle of all. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, not amongst men, but amongst nations—great and small, powerful and weak, exalted and humble,—equality, fraternity, amongst peoples as well as amongst men—that is the challenge which has been thrown to us.... My appeal to the people of this country, and, if my appeal can reach beyond it, is this, that we should continue to fight for the great goal of international right and international justice, s
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IMMENSITY OF THE PROBLEM AND THE GRAVITY OF THE TASK
IMMENSITY OF THE PROBLEM AND THE GRAVITY OF THE TASK
Before we take up the two sets of facts relied upon by them in support of either position we may express our general agreement with them as regards the gravity of the task and the immensity of the problem. The size of the country and the vastness of its population are the measure of the extent of the problem. The existence of powerful vested interests at present possessed by the ruling race which may be interfered with by extended changes in the system of Government are the measure of its gravit
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EDUCATIONAL BACKWARDNESS
EDUCATIONAL BACKWARDNESS
“The Educational returns,” remark the authors of the Report, “tell us much the same story,” viz., the appalling dissimilarity of conditions in Europe and in India. While it is painfully true that the percentage of illiteracy in India is greater than in any of the countries of Europe, we cannot admit that that fact is a fatal bar to the beginnings of responsible government in India or to the granting of a democratic constitution to the country. Literacy is, no doubt, a convenient, but by no means
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POVERTY
POVERTY
The argument based on poverty is of still less force. On the other hand, it is the best reason why the people of India should have the power to determine and carry out their fiscal policy. We hope the admissions made in Paragraph 135 of the Report which we bodily reproduce [2] will once for all dispose of the silly statement, so often repeated even by men who ought to know better, that materially India has been highly prosperous under British rule. If so, how is it that in the language of the Se
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PRESENT CAUSES OF DELAY
PRESENT CAUSES OF DELAY
These observations raise an apprehension in our mind that it is proposed to add to the strength of the services under the Government of India. We, for ourselves, do not see how it can be otherwise. With the steady admission of the popular element into the Government of India the activities of the latter are likely to increase rather than diminish; the secretarial work of the different departments will expand rather than contract. The question of questions is how to meet the increased cost. The r
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COST OF ADMINISTRATION
COST OF ADMINISTRATION
On the subject of the cost of administration it will be instructive to compare the annual salaries allowed to the highest public servants in India, the United States and Japan. The President of the United States, who ranks with the great royalties of the world in position, gets a salary of $75,000, without any other allowance. The Prime Minister of Japan gets 12,000 yen, or $6000. The Viceroy and the Governor General of India gets 250,000 rupees, or $83,000, besides a very large amount in the sh
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EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT
EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT
In the United States (we quote the figures of New York) the lowest grade school teachers get a salary of $720, rising to $1500 a year. In the upper grades salaries range from $1820 to $2260. Principals of elementary schools receive $3500 and assistants $2500. In the High Schools salaries range from $900 to $3150, in training schools from $1000 to $3250. Principals of High Schools and Training Schools receive $5000 and the same salary is paid to the District Superintendent. The Commissioner of Ed
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Indian Medical Service.
Indian Medical Service.
The real enemy is the war spirit fostered in Prussia. It is an ideal of a world in which force and brutality reign supreme, as against a world, an ideal of a world, peopled by free democracies, united in an honourable league of peace. David Lloyd George “The Destruction of a False Ideal.” Speech delivered at the Albert Hall on the launching of the New War Economy Campaign, October 22, 1917. When the Indian troops first arrived in October, 1914, the situation was of so drastic a nature that it wa
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VIII THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY IN INDIA
VIII THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY IN INDIA
The old world, at least, believed in ideals. It believed that justice, fair play, liberty, righteousness must triumph in the end; that is, however you interpret the phrase, the old world believed in God, and it staked its existence on that belief. Millions of gallant young men volunteered to die for that divine faith. But if wrong emerged triumphant out of this conflict, the new world would feel in its soul that brute force alone counted in the government of man; and the hopelessness of the dark
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I
I
The proposals relating to Provincial Government may be noticed under the following heads: ( a ) Financial devolution : It is proposed that henceforth there should be a complete separation of the provincial finances from those of the Government of India; that, reserving certain sources of revenue for the Government of India, all others should be made over to the Provincial Governments with the proviso that the first charge on all Provincial revenues will be a contribution towards the maintenance
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II
II
The proposals regarding the Government of India called the Central Government may be thus summed up: ( a ) General : “We have already made our opinion clear that pending the development of responsible government in the provinces the Government of India must remain responsible only to Parliament. In other words, in all matters which it judges to be essen tial to the discharge of its responsibilities for peace, order, and good government it must, saving only for its accountability to Parliament, r
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III India Office in London
III India Office in London
The principal proposals under this head may be thus summarized; “We advise that the Secretary of State’s salary, like that of all other Ministers of the Crown, should be defrayed from home revenues and voted annually by Parliament. This will enable any live questions of Indian administration to be discussed by the House of Commons in Committee of Supply.... It might be thought to follow that the whole charges of the India Office establishment should similarly be transferred to the home Exchequer
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A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE RESOLUTIONS RELATING TO THE REFORM PROPOSALS PASSED
A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE RESOLUTIONS RELATING TO THE REFORM PROPOSALS PASSED
Ordinary Rights of Citizens Fiscal Autonomy Reform Proposals Government of India Provincial Governments Parliament and India Office Mahomedan Representation Army Commissions Public Services Franchise for Women The All-India Muslim League is in substantial accord with the resolutions of the Special Congress. It will be easily seen that Indian opinion, of both Hindus and Mussulmans, is substantially in accord in their demands for the democratization of the Central government and in their criticism
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XI INDIA’S CLAIM TO FISCAL AUTONOMY “INDUSTRIES AND TARIFFS”
XI INDIA’S CLAIM TO FISCAL AUTONOMY “INDUSTRIES AND TARIFFS”
.... for equality of right amongst nations, small as well as great, is one of the fundamental issues this country and her allies are fighting to establish in this war. David Lloyd George “The War Aims of the Allies.” Speech delivered to delegates of the Trade Unions, at the Central Hall, Westminster, January 5, 1918. I beg to record my strong opinion that in the matter of Indian industries we are bound to consider Indian interests firstly, secondly, and thirdly. I mean by “firstly” that the loca
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XVII THE PROBLEM
XVII THE PROBLEM
We have so far discussed the Report and such remarks as we have made have been by way of comment. In this chapter we propose to give in brief outline our own view of the problem. Let us first be clear about the exact nature of the Indian problem. Political institutions are, after all, only a reflection of the national mind and of national conditions. What is the end? The end is freedom to live and to live according to our own conception of what life should be, to pursue our own ideals, to develo
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XVIII THE INTERNATIONAL ASPECT
XVIII THE INTERNATIONAL ASPECT
Thus far we have discussed the Indian question from the internal or national point of view. But it has an international aspect also. It is said, and we hope that it is true, that the world is entering into an era of new internationalism and that the old exclusive chauvinistic nationalism is in its last gasps. This war was the greatest social mix-up known to history. It has brought about the downfall of many monarchs and the destruction of four empires. The armies of the belligerents on both side
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II
II
In the words of the summary prefixed to the report: “The first chapters of the report deal with India as an industrial country, her present position, and her potentialities. They show how little the march of modern industry has affected the great bulk of the Indian population, which remains engrossed in agriculture, winning a bare subsistence from the soil by antiquated methods of cultivation. Such changes as have been wrought in rural areas are the effects of economic rather than of industrial
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THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
Under the Government of India Act, 1915 (5 & 6 Geo. 5, c. 61). (1) His Majesty’s Secretary of State for India superintends, directs, and controls all acts relating to the government or revenues of India. He is responsible to Parliament. He or his Council has no legislative powers. (2) The Council of India consists of 10 to 14 members, appointed by the Secretary of State for a term of seven years; and the majority of Council must sanction expenditure of revenue and certain other specified
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MONTAGU-CHELMSFORD SCHEME OF REFORMS
MONTAGU-CHELMSFORD SCHEME OF REFORMS
(1) His Majesty’s Secretary of State to be retained, but his salary to be transferred to British Estimates. (2 & 3) A Committee is appointed to examine and report on the present constitution of the Council of India as well as the Office establishment. (The report of the Committee is not yet made.) (4) The House of Commons to be asked to appoint a Select Committee for Indian affairs. (5) Control of Parliament and the Secretary of State to be modified. (1) General. —The Government of India
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CONGRESS-LEAGUE REFORM PROPOSALS
CONGRESS-LEAGUE REFORM PROPOSALS
(1) The Secretary of State to be retained. But his salary to be transferred to British Estimates. (2) The Council of India be abolished. (3) There should be two permanent Under-Secretaries, one of whom should be an Indian. The charges of the Indian Office establishment should be transferred to British Estimates. (4) The proposed Select Committee of the House of Commons is not objected to. (5) The Secretary of State for India should eventually occupy the same position as the Colonial Secretary. T
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Special Communities
Special Communities
Other claims for separate electorates are not conceded. Regret is expressed that the organized non-Brahmans of the Madras Presidency refuse to appear before the Committee. It is pointed out that there the non-Brahmans (omitting the depressed or “untouchable” classes) outnumber the Brahmans by about 22 to one; and on the basis of enfranchisement taken in Madras the non-Brahmans would be in the proportion of four to one. It is held to be unreasonable to adopt the proposed expedient for a community
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The “All-India” Body
The “All-India” Body
For the Indian Legislative Assembly, the Committee propose 80 elected members, instead of the 68 suggested in the Joint Report. Fourteen representatives appointed by nomination and 26 officials (including seven ex-officio members) will bring up the total, exclusive of the Governor-General, to 120, as compared with 68 at present. A statement of the manifold difficulties in the way of direct election for this All-India body leads to the conclusion that there must be indirect election for all gener
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Finance
Finance
The Committee felt themselves precluded from considering any modification of the proposals of the Joint Report for the separation of the finances of the Government of India and of Provincial Governments. No opinion is expressed on memoranda received at a late stage from Sir James Meston making proposals for substantial departure from the plan of dealing with provincial finance set forth in the Joint Report. It may be recalled that Mr. Montagu and Lord Chelmsford proposed that, if the residue of
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The Public Services
The Public Services
Detailed proposals are made in relation to the public services, to be classified as Indian (All-India), provincial and subordinate, No service is to be included in the first of these categories without the sanction of the Secretary of State, while the demarcation between the provincial and subordinate services is to be left to the provincial Governments. General approval is given to a scheme prepared by the Government of India providing that legislation should be undertaken in Parliament to decl
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