The prospects of advance very greatly depend upon how far the
educated Indian is in sympathy with and capable of fairly
representing the illiterate masses. The old assumption that the
interests of the ryot must be confided to official hands is
strenuously denied by modern educated Indians. They claim that the
European official must by his lack of imagination and comparative
lack of skill in tongues be gravely handicapped in interpreting the
thoughts and desires of an Asiatic people. On the other hand, it is
argued that in the limited spread of education, the endurance of
caste exclusiveness and of usages sanctioned by caste, and in the
records of some local bodies and councils, may be found reasons
which suggest that the politically-minded classes stand somewhat
apart from and in advance of the ordinary life of the country. Nor
would it be surprising if this were the case. Our educational
policy in the past aimed at satisfying the few who sought after
English education, without sufficient thought of the consequences
which might ensue from not taking care to extend instruction to the
many. We have in fact created a limited _intelligentsia_, who
desire advance; and we cannot stay their progress entirely until
education has been extended to the masses. It has been made a
reproach to the educated classes that they have followed too
exclusively after one or two pursuits, the law, journalism, or
school teaching; and that these are all callings which make men
inclined to overrate the importance of words and phrases. But even
if there is substance in the count, we must take note also how far
the past policy of Government is responsible. We have not succeeded
in making education practical. It is only now, when the war has
revealed the importance of industry, that we have deliberately set
about encouraging Indians to undertake the creation of wealth by
industrial enterprise, and have thereby offered the educated
classes any tangible inducement to overcome their traditional
inclination to look down on practical forms of energy. We must
admit that the educated Indian is a creation peculiarly of our own;
and if we take the credit that is due to us for his strong points
we must admit a similar liability for his weak ones. Let us note
also in justice to him that the progressive Indian appears to
realise the narrow basis of his position and is beginning to
broaden it. In municipal and university work he has taken a useful
and creditable share. We find him organising effort not for
political ends alone, but for various forms of public and social
service. He has come forward and done valuable work in relieving
famine and distress by floods, in keeping order at fairs, in
helping pilgrims, and in promoting co-operative credit. Although
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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