The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-05
By BASANTA KOOMAR ROY.
Author of "Rabindr anath Tagore: The Man
and His Poetry"

TUE ia order is fast passing away in Hin.
dustan. The Hindu's manners and GUS
toms are changing as are his currents
cf thought and outlook on life. Humility was
formerly looked upon as one of the noblest at
tributes Of character. Turning the left cheek
when smitten OH the right was ~practised with IA
vengeance. Cowardice was developed and
rOwardice brought in its train individual and
rational humiliations.
Happily for Hindu>tan, the humiliations have
been ~rumen in bringing about a new COLI
sciousness. The soul Of this Consciousness is
m~ilitancy. This spirit of militancy in that land
II Nirvana is not all attempt al wanton self
acknowledgement it is rather an attempt at
healthy >elf-a>Scrtion and all round harmonious
adjustment. The struggle between self-asser-
riou and traditional humiliation is mainly re-
,l~n>ihlc for the li>location If strrcotyp.d So
rial and political ideals.
So We hear complaints Oh all sides. Parents
complain Of the growing disreslect on the part
# their children. Teachers complain Of a van
i>hin. spirit Of reverence in their pupils. The
Rrahminical priests deplore the loss Of erstwhile
reverence in the people at large. Upper caste
men burn with rage at what they call the un-
'earable impudence Of the lower caste men. And
above all the British rulers find il difficult to
cope with the unmistakable spirit of revolt.
The spirit Of militancy against the British
Raj il pNnrasSint, ifS.lf i'm yari,xis why's II.r,.-
tofore the Briton in India was an object Of
terror. The people We're afraid II him. a
couple If Britons could send Il thousand IIindus
to fisht like II herd of frightened sheep. In
The public parks. streets and railroad trains our
men and women were fagrantly assaulted and
insuItei by the Brlton. The people dared not re-
"lill" ar even complain against a mnn-rathrr.
n demigod-who belonged to the ruling race.
Even when a case was brought before IA court
N" Hindu never received justice against II
HritoIl
\'N the i"oile are not afraid If the Brilon
any NOR" ~, ~. =. Il hypn"tic siel! has
m"n raised. The Nationalist l.u, uI.S,s have
~ 'G'' r'1ind in Installing ini" The minds Of The
people the spirit of independence that they re-
fl'o 10 talk" insults without II protest. Fear is
cN.n@ place to morbid hatred, and hatred is
"WIh- EXPRESSION III taxing Tie laws mo one y
own hands.
No" If n man in The street is whipped by II
hfiion in n passing carriage the iIiln'u cries
Hawlruhtarain NIail. Motherland -, II crowd
gathers, stops the carriage. takes the Briton out
ana thrashes him. Similar scenes are enacted
III lhr rlilroad trains and public parks, Even
The eA>.avcd coolies Of Assam have more than
once 'hrashei slave 0wning British lea planters.
l" cope with The new militant spirit !. India
nigh officials have been obliged to issue circulars
10 VI" British civil and military officers asking
'hrn 10 be- courteous 10 the Ilindus.
hui N" most radical Of the Hindu National
ISIS du"A not believe in these palliative measures.
u" believes in smoking the British out Of Indln.
will" retaining their baggage. lie is growing in
power and following. lie advocates any and
every means as long rs it serves one end-tle
Hh' ialIon of India from British rule and the
'~eirr.'ion Of the country under one central gov
eminent in other words, Il United States OF
India.
Ih'S extremist is turning the pages of Hindu
'~FliurrN to find sanction for open or secret
war against The British, for India understands