12
CANADA AND INDIA
AN INTERESTING SUGGESTION.
The Toronto Globe published recently some interesting letters which help to throw some light on the Hindu ques- tion In Canada. "Orillian" in its columns makes the suggestion: "Why sacrifice the lives of thousands more of (Canadians) the best citizens in the British Empire in- stead of accepting, say, five millions Hindus, who are pood British subjects, but not so valuable to the Empire as are our Canadians" To this another correspondent of that paper writes: "His idea that Britain should draw a mil- Hon or two Hindus instead of calling upon Canadians for the ignoble reason he advances is, one that will be, repug- mant to all Canadians." Whilst "A Man" writes in another letter: "Hindus offer their lives, which are just as dear to them as his to the Orillian, to help the Empire in this great struggle, irrespective of several harsh treatments they received at Vancouver some time ago."
THE FRIENDS AND THE HINDUS.
The Canada half-yearly meeting of Friends, held at New- market, Ont., Sept. 27th, 1915, passed the following resolu tion unanimously: "The question of the Hindustanis in British Columbia having been at this time considered in our half-yearly conference, and it appealing to us that they live under disabilities which are unjust, we are united in asking the Government of Canada to make timely regula. tions that will facilitate the entry into Canada of the wives and children of these British subjects resident in Canada and thus restore to them the privileges of home life. We ask this in the interests, we believe, of morality and Chris- tian civilization and a united Empire. We understand the majority of the East Indians in Canada are Sikhs, whose religion teaches the inwardness of God's revelation, the unity of mankind, the equality of the sexes, education for girls, monogamy, physical and moral purity, and the avoid- ance of Idol worship, superstition, caste exclusiveness, and the use of spirituous liquors.
"The regulation requiring continuous passage of Asiatic immigrants, operates to discriminate against these people, understanding that while the conditions of travel permit the Japanese and Chinese to easily comply therewith, it is practically impossible for women of India to do so and not run the risk of deportation.
"In this strenuous moment of national difficulty we would ask only for a simple regulation that will speedily recog nize this claim of humanity and social order in behalf of these people and of Justice.
"Directed to be signed by the clerks this 37th day of the ninth month, 1915, and forwarded to the Hon, the Sec- retary of State and Sir Robert Borden, Prime Minister in the Government of Canada, for and on behalf of Canada Half-yearly Meeting of Friends."
In connection with this, we have to thank Mr. William Greenwood Brown and other friends who held a large meet- ing where he and others apoke regarding this movement.
CANADA INDIA COMMITTEE.
Within the last few months there has been formed in Toronto the Canada India Committee. The following ex- tracts from the published syllabus state briefly the outlook and purposes which have called it into existence:
A few individuals have formed the Canada India Com. mittee for the furtherance of two objects, which in their opinion are of vital importance to India, to Canada, and to the British Empire. The objects are:
(a) To promote a wider appreciation of Canada's rela tion to India.
(b) To secure its equitable adjustment.
The first 1s of a general educational character, designed to remove certain prejudices on the part of the citizens of both India and Canada. The second will develop a series of practical campaigns to remove certain injustices imposed on the people of India resident in Canada.
The committee's motives are based on the fundamental RIGHTS OF MAN and the principles of Christianity, pro- fessed by all the Western peoples, without regard to poli- tical, sectarian, or personal aims.
The Committee:
(1) ACCEPTS, as involving a high moral obligation, the great pledge given the people of India in 1858 by Queen Victoria and subsequently confirmed by King Edward and King George, which proclaimed:
"We hold ourselves bound to the natives of our Indian territories by the same obligations of duty which bind us to all our other subjects,
May the God of all power
prant to us and those in authority under us strength to carry out these,"
(2) DECLARES in consequence the necessity of Cana- dian laws which will prevent discrimination against British Indians, whilst maintaining the established economic policy of the country.
(3) INVITES the aid of all persons and organizations actuated by the above motives, in securing the successful outcome of the committee's objects.
The committee realizes that unaided it would be power- less to create a great wave of popular protest which will
October, 1915
induce the Government to provide simple justice to our fellow British subjects, therefore, the committee invites the co-operation and support of all religious and mission- ary bodies, the social, fraternal, and patriotic societies, and the press of Canada; in fact, the aid of any group is wel- comed that will work for the CAUSE Itself regardless of personal advantage,
WORK OF THE COMMITTEE.
A sympathizer writes about the committee in the Friends' Intelligencer: "It is the forerunner of a movement that should surely succeed in removing the blot upon Christian- ity and civil government associated with the domestic dis- abilities under which the Sikhs in Canada and their fami- lies in India exist. The wives and children are practically forbidden to live in Canada.
"While inopportune to enter upon the broad question of political rights, and the economic considerations involved in their status on the Pacific Coast, the inhumanity, as it appears to us, the claims of morality, justice, and right relations within and without the British Empire call for immediate correction.
"To those interested in missionary enterprise, this tra vesty upon Christian brotherhood on professed Christian soil is a serious handicap. To those not self-centred or indif- ferent to the march of events and world vision, it must be apparent that every people, individually or in groups, national or less, affecta all other peoples, and by them is affected in return."
"A Syllabus of Its Objects, Principles, and Procedure," issued by the Canada India Committee, and other literature may be had by writing to the Secretary, Dr. L. A. Davis, 68 Tranby Avenue, Toronto, Canada.
GREAT BRITAIN.
AFTER THE WAR.
At a meeting of the Royal Colonial Institute, Sir John McCall, the Agent-General for Tasmania, said: "For the first time in the history of our widespread Empire men from all parts are taking a share in the war, and one gathers from general conversations that there has been a strongly expressed feeling that the whole Empire should have a say in the making of war as well as the making of peace. How can this union be secured without putting too tight a rein on young democralle Dominions? over, there are certain countries practically within the Empire which do not rank as Dominions, but which to my mind should be consulted before any final decision as to Imperial union is decided upon-I mean India and Egypt.
More-
My proposal is that a convention be called together by the King or the Imperial Government at the time of the next Imperial Premiers' Conference, and that those to be invited to attend the convention should be, in addition to representatives of each important party in the Parliament of this country, the Prime Minister and leaders of the Opposition of the Dominions' Parliaments, together with two others to be selected by them each from his own party, and a representative from each party in the Senate, the Premiers, and leaders of the Opposition in each State and Provincial Parliament: a representative from each Crown colony, together with such representatives of India and Egypt as may be decided upon by the Indian and Colonial Offices in conjunction with the Council of India and other Councils interested."
Sir Charles Lucas, the Permanent Under Secretary of State at the Colonial Ofice said: "If you gave two repre- tentatives on this commission to each of the self-governing Dominions and two to India and had three for the United Kingdom, including the chairman, you would have fifteen. Assuming that a convention is recommended and called together, its work would be to draft a scheme for a future organization of the Empire. That scheme would be sent out and all the Legislatures would sit in judgment upon it. This will take time, but that in my opinion is an ad- vantage."
PREMIER BORDEN ON HINDUS.
India (London, Eng.) says: "We do not know what Sir Robert Borden is going to do with the Indian grievance in Canada when the war is over; but he certainly does not forget India, as some English politicians do, in the public speeches which he has been making during his visit to London. Last week he was entertained at luncheon at the House of Commons by the Empire Parliamentary Associa- tion. Mr. Balfour and Mr. Bonar Law were both present; and in responding to the toast of 'Canada and the War,' Sir Robert Borden said: 'Last autumn, in speaking before & Canadian club in the West of Canada, he said that if the war continued for a year it was reasonably probable that the overseas Dominions would have in the field 250,000 men. He ventured to think that to-day, if they estimated what Australia had done and was doing-what New Zea- land had done and was doing-what South Africa had done and was doing-what India had done and was doing- the overseas Dominions of the Empire bad in the field or in training, as organized troops, no less than 350,000 men,""
October, 1915
CANADA AND INDIA
AN EMPIRE DAY CIRCULAR.
The British Empire of to-morrow will be made by ita children of to-day. What then can be of more importance than the ideals which are placed before them? That the London County Council has realized this is shown by a printed circular which was issued for use in the elementary schools in London on the occasion of this year's celebration of empire Day. Its tone and purpose are evident in the following extracts: The response of the Empire, so imme- diate and a complete, has moved to admiration those who awaited it with confidence, and astonished those who doubted of the reality of Imperial Unity... As scat. tered particles of steel respond to the magnet, as a solution, shapeless and unordered, resolves itself at the right touch into beautiful forms, true to type and loyal to some mys. terious force, so has the Empire responded to the touch of necessity. Never before has the world witnessed so calm, so splendid, so unrehearsed a pageant as is presented by the rally of the empire to-day..
THE RESPONSE OF INDIA,
Most touching and dramatic of all has been the response of India. For here are no subtle ties of kinship, no bonde of a common tongue or a common faith, no traditions of our island race. Sikhs from the Punjab and Pathans from the north-western hills, martial Rajputs and tireless Gurkhas, men from the Khyber and Chitral tribes, have united in unswerving loyalty and enthusiastic devotion to the King-Emperor.
The proudest princes have vol- unteered for active service, and are to-day with their mer on the battlefield, headed by chivalrous Sir Portab Singh, who at seventy years of age claimed leadership. A far- reaching fellowship of race and spirit has been created, and Christianity has found some answer in the creeds of Islam, Buddha, and Brahma.
·
THE TIE THAT BINDS.
The Mother Country 1s still the heart of the Empire. Love has ever been a stronger bond of union than force. The word Empire first appears in English history in a statute of Henry VIII., and there it denotes not domina- tion, but spiritual and temporal independence. "It may fairly be stated," says Sir Charles Lucas, "that at the pre- sent day British Empire connotes British liberty."
To freedom may be added justice in administration and loyalty to the pledged word; tolerance whenever possible of customs and modes of life, and, not least, reverence for other faiths, There is, too, in increasing measure, a humanitarian aspect of the spirit.
What of the future? None dare predict, but all may feel that, because of to-day, to-morrow can never be again as yesterday. The British Empire ia becoming a federation of free peoples, organic and not mechanical in its growth; a federation based on community of interests, finding unity in consent and strength in diversity.
SIR GEORGE PAISH ON HINDU IMMIGRATION. Writing about Hindu Immigration to Canada, Sir George Palsh, the eminent authority on finance, said in the London Statist: "Remembering that the population of India amounts to 315,000,000 of human beings; that it is sunk in abject poverty; and that nobody who takes the trouble to enquire can doubt that it would be an immense help to India if there should be a large and successful emigration. We had hoped for broader views, for more presel- ence, and for a truer Imperial spirit on the part of the people of Canada. They themselves are all settlers from foreign lands, or the descendants of such settlers. We had fondly hoped that, knowing all this, they would recognize the consequent (Imperial) obligation upon them. We have been disappointed."
At a recent meeting of the General Board of Social Ser- vice and Evangelism of the Methodist Church, discussion took place as to the advisability of asking the powers that be to allow the families of the Sikhs domiciled in the Do- minion to enter Canada. Dr. Watson spoke of the apparent unfairness that British subjects should be thus debarred.
■
Sir Reginald Craddock will lay on the table of the Im- perial Legislative Council a statement showing the number of colonials employed in Government service in British India, in reply to a question by the Hon. Mr. Surendra Nath Bannerjea, of Calcutta.
•
Capt. Mellish at the Anglican Synod, held here last month, speaking of the Hindus on the Pacific Coast, sald they have been treated miserably. "If we treated the Hindus rightly, we would find them splendid citizens." He felt taht the recent immigration trouble on the coast was badly managed.
* • •
Representative periodicals published in India are: "The Modern Review," a monthly English magazine, Issued from 210 Cornwallis Street, Calcutta, India. Enclose 15 cent stamps for a specimen copy.
"The Bengalee," an Engish daily, printed in Calcutta, India.
INDIA.
630 13
Thou who dost charm the heart of all the world, Thou land gleaming with the golden glory of the sun, Thou mother of our fathers and mothers,
The soles of whose feet are washed by the waters of the blue
sea,
Whose green skirts are futtered by the breeze, Whose forehead, the Himalayas, is kissed by the skies, Who wearest the diamond diadem of the snows;
It was in thy firmament that the first day dawned,
It was in thy herimitages that the first hymns were sung. Words of wisdom, religion, poetry, history, first Were preached in thy forest temples.
Thou art blessed, the eternal dispenser of good; Thou dost distribute food from land to land.
The Ganges and the Jumna are the milk of mercy flowing
from thy breasts.
-Rabindranath Tagore.
THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS.
The response of India in this crisis of the Empire has been so spontaneous that an account of the Nationalist movement in India may be of some interest. It was after the Government of India was taken over by the people of Britain from the hands of a mere trading corporation that real interest was manifested in India's affairs. The terrible days of the Mutiny were over, and soon after that the late Queen Victoria issued the famous proclamation giving cer- tain rights to the people of India, amongst which it said: "We hold ourselves bound to the natives of our Indian ter- ritories by the same obligations of duty which bind us to all our other subjects." This in India is truly called the Magna Charta, for by this the rights of Hindu subjects of the Crown are duly recognized. It is not a mere "scrap of paper."
EARLY HISTORY OF THE REFORMERS. Following the days of racial conflict, passions rose high, and that, too, in a country where the racial question is always more or less acute. It took nearly a generation for the Indians to adjust themselves to the new conditions. Raja Ram Mohun Roy, the great reformer, who early in the last century went over to England to represent India's cause, and who did so much for reforms, political, social, and religious, died in England. It was late in the seventies that the famous leader, Keshub Chunder Sea, accompanied by some students, paid a visit to England, He was cord!- ally received, and three of these students, Romesh Chunder Dutt, Surendro Nath Banerjea, and Krishna Govinda Gupta, rose high in the service of the Motherland.
But it was in 1884, when the works of these great leaders and of the Swami Dayanand Saraswati, who preached pure Hinduism from one corner of India to the other and founded the Arya Samaj, that steps were taken to organize India politically. Up to that time the people had not much to say in the administration of their own country. Their voice, if heard at all, was ignored. The bureaucracy in India was a law unto itself, and it was the famous Ilbert Bill controversy which set the ball rolling.
Hindus who had received education in the best colleges and universities of the West and the East, learned in law, medicine, business, and other professions, got together and formulated plans to have their opinions heard. The con- dition in India was like that of Canada in 1837 when, under the leadership of William Lyon Mackenzie in Upper Can- ada and Papineau in Lower Canada, the people of the then Canada asked for primary rights of self-government, and it was not till Lord Durham came out to Canada as Gov- ernor-Genera! and sent his famous despatch that Canada really got what she wanted. The full result of this act received its final consummation in the Confederation of Canada in 1867, granting Provincial autonomy to the vari ous Provinces.
THE FIRST CONGRESS IN BOMBAY.
In India things were very similar. The foreign bureau- cracy was well entrenched. It scoffed at this microscopic minority in India who asked for their just rights. This great movement, known afterwards in world history, as the Indian National Congress, met for the first time in Bombay tn December, 1885. There were representatives from all parts of India, great scholars, judges, lawyers, and editors. Mr. W. C. Bannerji, a well-known barrister-at-law of Cal- cutta, presided. At this day when a learned Indian is sworn of His Majesty's Privy Council in England, whilst there are two Indians in the Council of the Secretary of State for India in London, and another a judge of the Madras High Court, who has been recently appointed the Minister of Education for India, it seems the beginning of the Con- gress was auspicious. These were modest men, but they,
on behalf of the people of India, asked the primary rights of citizenship granted in India's Magna Charta. India's service to humanity in matters spiritual is recognized over the wide world, but the desire of her sons to make her a mation, which she is geographically as well as racially and otherwise, was very disconcerting to the official class,
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