The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1916. INDIA’S LOYALTY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 21, 19 December 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1916. INDIA’S LOYALTY.

A line tribute to Britain’s rule in India and another refutation to the stupid -German idea that the people of that great country were only waiting the signal from the Kaiser to rise against the British was given at Benares the other day by one of the great native princes, the Maharaja of Gwalior, in a speech read at the first court held under the auspices of the newly constituted Hindu University. The Maharaja,’ discussing educational problems, in relation to the British rule, expressed his ihaukfulness for the decision, many years ago, that the general means for

imparting education in India should be English rather than the Indian languages. This decision placed within the reach of the Indian peoples what he was pleased to term “the untold blessings of Western research and literature,” and he said the people of India should he siiicerely grateful for that opportunity. The Maharaja commented upon this desire of Britain to educate Hindu and Moham-

medan as the best earnest of the sincerity and unselfishness of her rule. “Those who can reflect a little and penetrate below the surface will have no difficulty,” he declared, “in realising and appreciating the true aims of the British people in governing India. It passes my comprehension how any person with a right to be heard can say that the policy of the British Government is to divide and rule, and to keep India in a state of perpetual dependence. History abounds in eases whore the desire of a dominant class lias been to keep the others in a state of perpetual tutelage: the measures they adopted were not directed towards restricting wealth or power, but to enslaving the intellect. The reason is obvious. H is the emancipation of the intellect that is the basis of every other

emancipation—moral, social, economic and political.” I In* Maharaja s

( inclusion was that Britain having shown by her rclorms in India her sincere regard lor tin* people and her desire to uplift and educate, India would show sound wisdom in continuing loyally to stand by the terms oi her union with the nation to whom she owed so much, India has taken that high stand and except tor Ger man-paid agitators, who on till conceivable occasions falsely state the position and endeavour to stir tip strife, she will continue a loyal daughter of the Empire. Ihe idea "I Judin turning to Germany as. a debt erer is merely ludicrous.