This is what Mr. Swan writes. You may gather therefore that very little
is done for industry and commerce. Now that is the position. This
state of things went on for years. We were sleeping. At the end of
every year we used to hold a meeting of the Congress and beyond that
we had no kind of activity. But from the year 1905, there was a great
activity in this country which we called the Swadeshi movement. And we
find from that time the Government indulged in a series of repressive
measures and I believe those repressive measures in their turn gave
rise to a party in Bengal, who are described by the Government
as anarchists but who are, I venture to think, not anarchists at
all--they are revolutionaries. I do not for a moment suggest that
the methods which they employ are good or ought to be encouraged but
they are not anarchists. It is not that they want to do away with all
Government--what they want to do is to change the system of government
(hear, hear). So far as I have been able to judge the object of these
so called anarchists is not different from the object of the Congress
or the Moslem League. The only difference lies in the method which
they pursue. They pursue methods which are subversive of law and
order whereas the Congress-League adopts methods which are legal.
This is the only difference. The methods they pursue are deserving
of severe condemnation but I think it is a great injustice to call
them anarchists. Be that as it may--I say that after these repressive
measures, one after another, in rapid succession--we have in our midst
a revolutionary party in Bengal.
Now, it has been often said that we are not fit for self-government
because of the existence of this revolutionary party. My answer is:
I do not deny that there is a revolutionary party. I admit it and I
say that no government which is not a national government will ever
be able to put a stop to this revolutionary movement. What do these
people want? They want freedom. They want to change the system of
government. I told you just now that their object is the same as that
of the Congress and the Moslem League. I go further and I say that
their object--not their methods--is now recognised as legitimate
by the British Cabinet. In August last year, the British Cabinet
declared that some kind of responsible government should be introduced
into this country. What does that mean? It means that the system of
government which obtains now, which is bureaucratic, should be changed
or otherwise it is an admission on the part of our masters--after all
it is the British Cabinet who are our masters and not the Bureaucracy
here--it is an admission on the part of our masters that a change of
government, of the bureaucratic system of government is necessary for
the welfare of India. I say the object of the so-called anarchists is
not only the same as that of the Congress and the League but it is an
object which is recognised and sanctioned by the highest authority in
England. Therefore, gentlemen, I say, as I have said elsewhere, that
the only way you can put a stop to this revolutionary movement is by
recognising that simple fact that the people of this country--they
are hungry for Freedom--should be given what they want and I say the
moment you give freedom to the people, there will be an end of this
revolutionary movement (hear, hear). It has been pointed out over
and over again, but the Bureaucracy will not listen. Gentlemen, that
is the position of affairs to-day. Our agriculture neglected, our
education neglected, sanitation neglected, industry and commerce not
seriously considered and along with that we have got a revolutionary
movement in this country. This is the present situation and it is upon
that that a memorable declaration was made by the British Cabinet
in August last year. Now, gentlemen, what have we to say to that? I
desire to place before you clearly what I mean: Your declaration goes
one way and your action goes another way. That is the real grievance
of the people of this country. Tell us, if you want, 'you are not fit
for self-government, we will not give you self-government.' I can
understand that position. I respect plain speaking. I am fond of plain
speaking. Let the bureaucracy say in clear terms 'we cannot afford to
give you responsible government. We want to have this government as
bureaucratic as ever.' 'You can get a little change here and there,
political lolipops with which you can amuse yourselves. But we will
not give you responsible government'--let them so declare, if they
like, and we will then drop this political agitation. Our difficulty
is this: We believe in the words of the Declaration and in that belief
we have been devising schemes, holding meetings to consider schemes
of self-government and to consider what would be the best form of
self-government, in this country and to help the Government with our
suggestions so that the British Parliament may consider this.