THE UNREST IN INDIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13278, 10 September 1906, Page 5

THE UNREST IN INDIA.

A SEDITIOUS PAMPHLET

By Telegraph.—-Press Association.—Copyright.

Calcutta, September 7. " Golden Bengal," a society formed in connection with Babu Banerjee's agitation, has issued a seditious pamphlet inciting the Hindoos and Mahommedans to rise in their multitudes and beat the British from the country. Many of Banerjee's followers have deserted since his " coronation."

The .Statesman, which has been almost alone among Anglo-Indian papers in giving any encouragement, to the Bengal agitation against partition, has published a remarkable letter from a correspondent at Manbhum, in the Santa! country, who, writing with tho signature "A.C.," is presumably an Indian, for he remarks that he was " preaching Swadesbisin when Balm Surendvanath Bauerjee was drawing pay from the Indian Government," that is to say, TJefore the Babu, then quite a young man, was removed from the Indian Civil Service in 1874 for misconduct. "A.C." expresses regret that unrest has . not been confined to Bengal proper, for if the cry of Swadeshism or Bande Mataram caught on outside Bengal serious results might follow. The Santal rebellion (1855) was a Swadeshi, or it might even be called a " Bande Mataram " movement, which was inaugurated by the murder of Bengalis and alien lenders. And there is now a considerable under-current of discontent as to the number of alien officials, chiefly Bengalis, in the country. "A.C." states ho has seen a letter which is being distributed in a part of the Santal country drawing attention to the fact that all the highly-paid offices in the Santal pargana? are held by aliens, when by right they belong to the Santals. Subscriptions are being called for, and advice asked as to how the interests of the Santals can best be promoted. "The Santals," ho continues, "have not changed much during the last 50 years, and should the Bengalis succeed in bringing them into the Swadeshi net there is no saying what may happen, as the feeling against Bengalis is very strong. There are no military in the district; the last were withdrawn from Dumka some time ago. So it would be wisdom on the part of the prophets of Swadeshism to refrain from preaching to the Santals at present, for should the Santals become infected with the Swadeshi cry, then let the Bengalis of the district keep a sharp lookout, for they will be the first to feel the effects of tho Swadeshim of the hill men."