The Case for India | Page 8

25 corps in France.
In addition 60,000 artisans, labourers, and specialists are serving in
Mesopotamia and East Africa, and some 20,000 menials and followers
have also gone overseas. Indian medical practitioners have accepted
temporary commissions in the Indian Medical Service to the number of
500. In view of this fact, due to Great Britain's bitter need of help, may
we not hope that this Service will welcome Indians in time of peace as
well as in time of war, and will no longer bar the way by demanding
the taking of a degree in the United Kingdom? It is also worthy of
notice that the I.M.S. officers in charge of district duties have been
largely replaced by Indian medical men; this, again, should continue
after the War. Another fact, that the Army Reserve of Officers his risen
from 40 to 2,000, suggests that the throwing open of King's
Commissions to qualified Indians should not be represented by a
meagre nine. If English lads of 19 and 20 are worthy of King's
Commissions--and the long roll of slain Second Lieutenants proves
it--then certainly Indian lads, since Indians have fought as bravely as
Englishmen, should find the door thrown open to them equally widely
in their own country, and the Indian Army should be led by Indian
officers.
With such a record of deeds as the one I have baldly sketched, it is not

necessary to say much in words as to India's support of Great Britain
and her Allies. She has proved up to the hilt her desire to remain within
the Empire, to maintain her tie with Great Britain. But if Britain is to
call successfully on India's man-power, as Lord Chelmsford suggests in
his Man-Power Board, then must the man who fights or labours have a
man's Rights in his own land. The lesson which springs out of this War
is that it is absolutely necessary for the future safety of the Empire that
India shall have Home Rule. Had her Man-Power been utilised earlier
there would have been no War, for none would have dared to provoke
Great Britain and India to a contest. But her Man-Power cannot be
utilised while she is a subject Nation. She cannot afford to maintain a
large army, if she is to support an English garrison, to pay for their
goings and comings, to buy stores in England at exorbitant prices and
send them back again when England needs them. She cannot afford to
train men for England, and only have their services for five years. She
cannot afford to keep huge Gold Reserves in England, and be straitened
for cash, while she lends to England out of her Reserves, taken from
her over-taxation, £27,000,000 for War expenses, and this, be it
remembered, before the great War Loan. I once said in England: "The
condition of India's loyalty is India's freedom." I may now add: "The
condition of India's usefulness to the Empire is India's freedom." She
will tax herself willingly when her taxes remain in the country and
fertilise it, when they educate her people and thus increase their
productive power, when they foster her trade and create for her new
industries.
Great Britain needs India as much as India needs England, for
prosperity in Peace as well as for safety in War. Mr. Montagu has
wisely said that "for equipment in War a Nation needs freedom in
Peace." Therefore I say that, for both countries alike, the lesson of the
War is Home Rule for India.
Let me close this part of my subject by laying at the feet of His
Imperial Majesty the loving homage of the thousands here assembled,
with the hope and belief that, ere long, we shall lay there the willing
and grateful homage of a free Nation.

CHAPTER II.
CAUSES OF THE NEW SPIRIT IN INDIA.
Apart from the natural exchange of thought between East and West, the
influence of English education, literature and ideals, the effect of travel
in Europe, Japan and the United States of America, and other
recognised causes for the changed outlook in India, there have been
special forces at work during the last few years to arouse a New Spirit
in India, and to alter her attitude of mind. These may be summed up as:
(a) The Awakening of Asia.
(b) Discussions abroad on Alien Rule and Imperial Reconstruction.
(c) Loss of Belief in the Superiority of the White Races.
(d) The Awakening of Indian Merchants.
(e) The Awakening of Indian Womanhood to claim its Ancient
Position.
(f) The Awakening of the Masses.
Each of these causes has had its share in the splendid change of attitude
in the Indian Nation, in the uprising of a spirit of pride of country, of
independence, of self-reliance, of dignity, of self-respect. The War has