But before we try to understand the ideal of Self-Government it is as
well to take a bird's eye view of the modern history of Bengal which
bears upon that momentous question. I shall not weary you by a detailed
analysis of that history. But I shall place before you as briefly as I
can the landmarks, as it were of that history within which Nationalism
was in the making, within which our self-consciousness was growing and
which has led us to the present day when the whole country is demanding
in one voice, as it were, some sort of responsible self-government.
If you do not understand the trend of events and incidents which have
led up to this consciousness of nationalism, I am afraid you will
miss much that is important to know. Gentlemen, when we talk of the
modern history of Bengal, we have to begin with Rajah Ram Mohan Roy
(cheers). He was from that point of view, the founder of modern Bengal
although I admit that the life work of this great man has got to be
re-estimated, revalued, re-understood and reinterpreted. There is no
doubt that he was the first who held before us the ideal of freedom.
He was the first to sound the note of freedom in every department of
life and in all different cultures that have met to-day in India. It
may be, we have to modify that, it may be we have to analyse that more
carefully and more in details for the purpose of scientific study
but it is enough for our purpose to say that he inaugurated many
reforms--you might call that reforming activity. He inaugurated the
reforms which again, in turn, gave rise to reaction which, again, gave
rise to further reforms which made the nation turn on itself till at
last, it began to be self-conscious. I do not admit that in the days
of the Rajah the nation was self-conscious, but he put before us just
the sort of thing which would have helped the immediate awakening of
the national consciousness. We cannot but pay homage to that great
genius, who, first of all, sounded the note of freedom in politics as
well as in other spheres of life. After the death of Rajah Ram Mohan
Roy, the work of reform was naturally taken up by the Brahmo Samaj
and although a section of our educated people followed the movement,
it was principally led by the Brahmo Samaj. That movement was nothing
but sounding the same note of freedom, though the ideal of freedom and
culture was borrowed from European culture and civilization. With Ram
Mohan Roy it was the extension and the Europeanisation of our cultural
systems. The same ideal was applied by the Brahmo Samaj to different
parts, different provinces of our society.