While reading Indias Struggle for Independence by Bipin Chandra, some thing caught my imagination. The early phase of Indias freedom struggle was fought by Moderates. Stalwarts like Dadabhai Naoroji and Gopal Krishna Gokhale were at the helm of affairs. Their methods of petitions and prayers to the government were criticized because they were not effective enough. But people lose sight of the fact that they were the pioneers of modern Indian political thought. India was not India as we know it today. It was a collection of various kingdoms. The moderates played a seminal role inculcating a modern identity of being an Indian among the masses. And make no mistake about it that these leaders were fully aware of what they were doing then. I am quoting both these leaders to give you a glimpse of how fortunate we are to have a legacy of such great visionaries. Referring to the preparatory nature of the Congress work from 1885 to 1905, Dadabhai Naoroji wrote to D. E. Wacha in January: The very discontent and impatience it (the Congress) has evoked against itself as slow and non progressive among the rising generation are among its best results or fruit. It is its own evolution and progress...(the task is) to evolve the required revolution -- whether it would be peaceful or violent. The character of the revolution will depend on the wisdom or unwisdom of the British Government and action of the British people. And this is how G. K Gokhale evaluated this period in 1907 : Let us not forget that we are at a stage of the countrys progress when our achievements are bound to be small, and our disappointments frequent and trying. That is the place which it has pleased Providence to assign to us in this struggle, and our responsibility is ended when we have done the work which belongs to that place. It will, no doubt, be given to our countrymen of future generations to serve India by their successes; we, of the present generation, must be content to serve her mainly by our failures. For hard though it be, out of those failures the strength will come which in the end will accomplish great tasks. This is a lesson for all public spirited people, social and political activists trying to make a difference and getting disheartened by the enormity of the task. It will not happen overnight. May be it will not happen in our lifetime. But if we work diligently, it will happen one day. Reading the above quotes you will realize how far ahead of their times were these great people thinking. Hats off to our founding fathers.
Posted on: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 13:36:34 +0000
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