Restore India’s heritage of a shared peoplehood

The spewing of hatred, in a new and menacing dimension now, is belittling the Constitution and betraying the people

The Gladstonian Liberal, John Morley (1838-1923), opposed imperialism and supported Irish Home Rule. But he had a dim view of India’s aspirations for freedom. ‘There is, I know,’ wrote Morley, ‘a school of thought who say that we might wisely walk out of India and that Indians can manage their own affairs better than we can. Anyone who pictures for himself the anarchy, the bloody chaos that would follow, might shrink from that sinister decision.’ Disapproving of reformist enlargements to Indian franchise and representation, he rebuked the ‘reformers’ with searing words : ‘When across the dark distances you hear the sullen roar and scream of carnage and confusion, your hearts will reproach you with what you have done.’

Quoting these two observations of Morley’s in an essay on the man, Winston S. Churchill wrote (in his Great Contemporaries), ominously : ‘Only time can show whether his fears were groundless.’

Today as we approach the 75th anniversary of India’s freedom, we may ask if time has disproved those grim prognoses contained in Morley’s keywords.

Is there ‘anarchy’ in India?

Absolutely not. Ours may be called by observers a turbulent democracy. True, some of our leaders often forget the laws, forget that there is such a thing as the Constitution of India. And many politicians speak with hatred in their minds and poison on their tongues with impunity. That does not make India a lawless desert.

Is there ‘bloody chaos’?

Of course not. Yes, there are moments of mayhem, hours of bedlam, days of havoc. Our legislatures know pandemonium. Our government offices know disarray. But bloody chaos? No way! Our chaotic moments can be bad, they are not bloody.