We cannot forget that the different nationalities of India, although
there are differences between them, although they differ from each
other in many respects, yet spiritually and historically they are
bound up as so many links in the chain of one living national
individuality. We ought not to forget that Bengal, Madras, Bombay
and the Punjab are all dominated by one great central culture. The
epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata are epics of not only the Punjab,
of Bombay, of Madras but also of Bengal and the rest of India. The
great religious institutions are common--I am speaking of the Hindus
only--to all the provinces, Each province has got a speciality of its
own, I admit, but over and above that all these different provinces are
bound together in one common culture. If we are to hold fast to our
provincial individuality, we must also see that the great individuality
of India is not lost. At one time the idea was to develop the different
provinces, making the provinces autonomous and to connect these
different autonomous provinces with the British Parliament. That will
not work out our ideal--that ideal will not allow the great Indian
nationality to develop and much as I love Bengal and much as I love
my own individuality, my own provincial individuality, I should be
sorry indeed if any kind of Self-Government is sought to be introduced
into this country which will greatly injure that great ideal of Indian
Nationality. If the whole of the Hindu races are bound up in that way,
you must also realise that the whole of the Mahomedan races all over
India is also similarly bound up together and you must not forget that
the two great cultures must meet together, and the result will be a
great culture which is not purely Hindu, not purely Mahomedan but
something which is made up of the contact of these two great races.
And that is the ideal of Indian Nationality which must be preserved
and developed to the fullest extent. If you ask me if I get provincial
Self-Government in Bengal, why I should trouble myself about this
Indian Nationality.