The Washington herald., 1912-01-21
'INDIA'S NEW CAPITAL

/ Delhi, the oeGtined capltai cityt ol
India, has . name which can be traced
through all the centuries. back to the
FIRST. Few cities show a longer pedi-
gree, the name Dflli-or Dillipur-
still being traceable into its Sanscrit
form on the ffty-foot high iron pillar
OF Rajah Dhawa, supposed to have
been sunk In the ground where II now
stands in the third century Apart from
its Indian mutiny associations. Delhi
holds a place in the imagination. ow-
ing. 10 the magnificent entrance hall Of
the Palace of the Moguls, the superb
carvings OF which justify the emblas-
oned boast: "If there is 4 heaven on
earth, Il is this II is thisi"
! But will Indian officials ruling from
this city OF Shah Jehan become more
godllixe7 What win the be psychologi-
cal effect OF the hall OF public audi
ence." as rich in autocratic memories
as It is graceful in its architectural
proportions. upon one already blamed
for being too much OF an Emperor
and not enough OF a citizen? Calcutta
reminded him that he was human;
he could hear in his Offices the scratch
ing Of the mercantile pens almost next
door, forbidding him TO forget the
business side OF all the enterprises and
the business character OF his very raj
son d'etre." Delhi Is an Olympus. Po-
litical tides sweep below II, but do not
trouble IT, and mundane affairs only
send up to its gates a feeble whisper.
That fond delusion OF the Western mind
that india is to be ruled by pageantry
| will possibly be strengthened; that
cherished error that 20 copy Akbar Is
the essence OF wisdom in the Indian
civil service will probably become
deeper. The administrator will rise
higher above public opinion. and the
shock which the denizen OF Delhi viii
receive when the House Of Commons
puts questions about him will shake
his self-respect far more than would
have happened IL he had remained in
Calcutta.
What will be the effect upon the people
OF India? Bengal will object to lose the
glory Of government even II II has re-
ceived some compensation by the re-
versal OF the partition. But there Is a
consideration more important. wha; will
be the effect upon racial and religious
divisions? Delhi is essentially a Moham-
medan city. 1t is true that the district
around is the scene OF those heroic ex-
ploits OF the early Hindoo heroes told inl
the 'Mahabharata," and they still point
spot where the Vedas were recovered
from the bottom Of the sea Go from
the modern city toward the south. and
you will find The remains Of the Hindoo
Delhi In neglected palace and fort. and.
above all, the famous iron Kutab Pillar.
But that is not the Delhi whose youth
is now TO be renewed.
It is the Delhi OF Shah Jehan that Is to
be the imperial capital, and Judging
from the Hindoo character. no other
pride will be reused by the change ex-
cept that OF the adherents OF the former
Mogul empire. True, Delhi proclaimed
the passing of the Mohsmmedan to the
Maharatti and later on to the English.
and to this day the low ridge to the
north OF the town with its monument
seems like an English frown overlooking
the city. But yet, somehow or other.
Delhi remains a Mohammedan city. IA
nous and beautiful. because It passed
under the heel and the hand OF the Mo-
hammedan.
Therefore the thought that VIII cross
the Hindoo mind when he is told that
Delhi once more is to be his capital city,
viii not be OF one Of the heroes OF the
Mahabharata, but OF the Moslem con-
order of things will only add to the sus-
picions by the Hindoo OF a Mohammedan
supremacy. From an imaginative point
of view there can be no doubt that
Delhi Is superior capital city TO Cal
cutta. Chastity in their barbarism were
Britain's deeds IN desecrating Delhi, but
recently the English tried to atone for
them. whitewashed barrack rooms are
still cheek by jowl with some Of the finest
pieces Of Shah Jehan architecture, but
whoever stands on the walls of the fort
is moved by the grouping OF minaret and
dome around him, by thoughts OF what
has taken place at his feet. by the
beauty Of the marble and sandstone work
blazing In the sun close by him.
One comes to understand, to feel II. as
why those knotted Persian letters |
carved in the marble OF the hall OF |
private audience" In the glorious marble |
File of Shah Jehan, tell the newcomers: |
IF a paradise be on the face Of the |
earth, II Is this, II is this.'
AS a political move the fitting to Delhi |
may be good or It may be bad. but 1t Is |
to be hoped that the very greatest efforts /
will be made to prevent the destruction |
of the architectural beauty and the his
torical feeling OF the place by those 1
ugly erections in which the British gov
ernment in India appears to delight to
do its work.
Talk about ciyiIizstioni They certainly