India for Indians: Enlarged EditionDas, Chitta Ranjan
History
India for Indians: Enlarged Edition
Das, Chitta Ranjan
India -- Politics and government -- 1919-1947
It is not a claim put forward on behalf of Anglo-Indians alone but it
is a claim put forward on behalf of the Britishers, it is a claim by
the people of England. I deny these Anglo-Indian agitators' right to
represent the people of England. I deny that they have got any right
to say anything on behalf of the people of England. If any plebiscite
is taken to-day in England, I feel sure that there would be a vast
majority in favour of the introduction of Self-Government to this
country (Hear, hear.)
MUST WE BE DENIED HOME RULE BECAUSE YOU HAVE BROUGHT CAPITAL?
If this claim is based on the mere fact of their introducing capital
in this country, you have to consider whether they have not been
sufficiently profited by the introduction of such capital. Does it mean
this then that because people bring capital to this country, because
they find it profitable to do so, they would have the right to say
to the Government: you shall not introduce Self-Government in this
country? Have they the right to tell the people: look here, we have
brought capital to this country, therefore, you shall not have any
desire to quarrel with these Anglo-Indian agitators. We do not regard
politics from that utterly selfish point of view from which they regard
it.
THEIR ONLY CLAIM IS ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION
I am free to admit in any scheme of Self-Government which is framed and
which is accepted by the people and the Government of this country,
these Anglo-Indian merchants ought to be allowed to be represented,
that is to say, I do not desire that any scheme should be framed
which would disregard the interests of any class of people, whether
Hindu, Mahomedan or Anglo-Indian, whatever the basis of the franchise
may be. But I say that these people have got no right to dictate to
the Government of India and to the people alike that they shall not
have Self-Government. I ask my Anglo-Indian friends to consider this
question from a little higher point of view. They must see that India
cannot ever remain without Self-Government. They must see that at some
time or other the voice of the people is bound to be heard and if they
do their duty by this country, by which they have been profited to a
very large extent, they ought to help in this work of Self-Government
rather than oppose it. I call upon them again to stand on a higher
platform and consider the question of Self-Government not in this way
but more seriously and with more consideration for the interest of the
people of this country.
STIRRING UP CONFLICTING INTERESTS
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account