_A monster public meeting was held at Mirzapur Square on 21st January,
'21 after Mahatma Gandhi's address to the Students. Mr. C. R. Das, when
asked to speak, was given a great ovation and said:--_
Gentlemen, it is impossible for me, to-night, to make a speech to you,
as my voice has not yet recovered. I desire to say only this--that
there is but one duty before you at the present moment. Those of you
who have left your Colleges do not go back or you bring discredit on
the country, not only on Bengal but on the whole of India. Remember,
the success of this movement is in your hands. I said that, the
first day I addressed you, and that, I say to-night, again, that the
success of this movement is in your hands. We want non-co-operation,
we want all Government Institutions--educational or otherwise--should
be boycotted. The question to-day is of educational institutions. Do
not believe those who say that the Calcutta University is a National
University or can even become the National University of Bengal. Avoid
that reasoning because it is a false reasoning. The national character
of an educational Institution does not lie in the fact as to whether
the Professors are Indians or Europeans. The national character of
the educational Institutions, to-day, depends on one fact, whether it
is, or it is not, connected with the Bureaucratic Government of this
country. That is the only test. They lead you astray. I speak with
all the conviction there is in my heart, they lead you astray. Who
say, that this College, Science College or that College or the other
Colleges which are manned by Indians are National Institutions? They
are not. They are Bureaucratic institutions and before we attain Swaraj
this University, there, a few minutes walk from here, has got to come
down. The youths of Bengal must make that perfectly clear. They have
taken the first step. The second step is to continue in this boycott.
Then comes the question of National University. I told you the first
day that, it is not necessary for Swaraj to have national Universities,
but if you want them it is in your hand; and if you want them, and if
you come out, I promise you a national University. I am here to make
good that promise (hear, hear.) Nothing will deter me from fulfilling
my promise. But, if you expect me to carry out my promise, may I not
expect you to stand firm? (hear, hear). May I not expect you to be
brave, to be true to yourselves and to shun those institutions you have
set your face against?
Gentlemen, I am taking a list of two classes of students of those who
want to work for the country. The gospel of spinning wheel, which my
revered leader Mahatma Gandhi has given you to-day, is a Gospel which
India has heard before, but which, unfortunately for ourselves, India
has forgotten, and it is not without pride that I am able to tell you
to-day that, the curriculum which we were drawing up for the National
University, makes the art of spinning and weaving a compulsory subject
(hear, hear) for all students; but those who want to work for the
country must not only learn spinning and weaving, but they must also be
trained in that particular work and it requires, at least, two months'
training in the National University which I am anxious to build up on
your behalf.
I have, also, made a second list of students who had told me that
they want to continue their studies for whom I am providing or trying
to provide. Always, remember, when I say I am doing this, I mean you
are doing it. I told you the other day, my strength comes from your
strength. I am nothing if you are not prepared. I have got the strength
of a million men if you are ready.
What am I? I am at your hands to-day for establishing this National
University. But do not be under the impression that this university
will be a replica of that monster of education which rears up its
head over there. It is to be nothing like it; you will see that,
when you study that curriculum which we are preparing, you must not
expect luxuries. But I can assure that any student who studies in the
National University for two years or even three years--I do not propose
to have students in our institution for more than 3 or 4 or 5 years
beginning from the age of eight or seven--and those who come out from
our institutions, you will find, will be educated, will be recognizable
as Indians, will be educated as Indians should be educated and will not
be copyists of European maxims and European culture generally. That is
the standard which I desire to apply, but be sure the work of education
cannot stop; one year is nothing in the history of a nation--one year
at a time when we are at war, peaceful though that war may be, when
we are aspiring to the greatest, with the most powerful bureaucracy
in the world--one year is nothing at all in point of time: and can
anybody reasonably say that if you shun your books for that one year
and take up this battle of Swaraj, you are not doing your duty? May I
suggest that those of you who want to continue your studies will not be
doing your duty in the battle of Swaraj? But those of you who are in
the second, act in a manner true to yourselves, but whatever you do,
remember that it is a non-violent war (hear, hear) Remember that if you
go back to those colleges, after leaving them, you prove yourselves
cowards and unworthy of being engaged in this great and glorious war.
Gentlemen, allow me, again, to thank you on behalf of my revered leader
and my great friend Mr. Mahammad Ali (cries of "Bande Mataram.")