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Partition and
Petition
THERE seems to be a
recrudescence of the and decadent praying mood once again in certain quarters,
and attempts, we understand, are being made to induce the leaders of public opinion in the
mofussil to join the Calcutta clique for sending
a fresh representation to the Secretary of State for India for the revocation or
modification of the Partition of Bengal. The recent reply of the British Prime
Minister to a question put to him by Mr. O'Donnell seems to be partly responsible
for
recrudescence, which, we understand, however, is mainly due
to wire-pulling from Palace Chambers. Some of our own
countrymen now in England also seem to be playing into the
hands of our Parliamentary friends, who are clearly anxious to
their own Government out of a very uncomfortable and undignified position in
which the present agitation in Bengal has clearly placed them. Similar hopes
were held out by some of our British friends, about six months ago, and it was
in consequence of these that people were induced to join the last Town Hall
demonstration against Partition; and it was practically stipulated that would be
our last prayer on this subject to the Government. The same game, however, is going to be played over again.
We do not know if a Town Hall meeting will be convened for
purpose; but advices from England seem to hold that no public meeting would at
all be necessary, a carefully drawn-up petition signed by a few leading men, and
submitted, not through the local Government, because the matter affects two
Provinces, and the
Government of any of these would not be competent to receive it, but through the Government of India, would equally
serve the purpose; as the Government in England is said to be
favourably inclined to a reconsideration of the Partition, and representation
from Calcutta would be very helpful at this moment.
We
have no doubt that it will be so; but why, in the name of
commonest political wisdom, we ask, should we be so anxious
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to offer this help to the Government that is clearly seeking an
honourable means of retreat from a very difficult and untenable position
wherein its own perversity and folly have placed it? We are all anxious to have
the Partition revoked, but we are so anxious not because Partition actually
works irreparable ill to the country, for the ends of the authors of this evil
measure have been completely frustrated already, and the political life of
Bengal which it was their avowed intention to weaken or kill, has been made
almost infinitely stronger than it ever was before or could possibly be in the
near future, - by this very Partition itself. The outraged sentiments of the
country have found relief in the consciousness of a new power among the people.
Outrages wound only because they are a proof of the weakness and incapacity of
the outraged; if this weakness is not felt, and this incapacity fails to be
established, the wound also ceases to exist. This has happened in Bengal, and
more particularly in East Bengal in connection with this Partition outrage; and
there is a growing indifference in the country as regards the fate of this
measure. People have found a larger and a more profitable object for their
public life. They have commenced to grow into a vivid consciousness of their own
strength; and they are, accordingly, growing more and more indifferent to what
the Government may or may not do either in regard to this or to any other
matter. They know and feel that their fate lies in their own hands, and in the
hands of God, who guides the destinies both of individuals and nations.
Bande
Mataram, September 4, 1906
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