Malviyaji’s Appearance and His Views on Various Phenomenon

‘India’, Winston Churchill once madestatement harshly “India is merely a geographical expression. It is no more a single country than the equator”. Here Churchill was completely wrong about India. It is true, India is too vast in its area and too diverse in its races. It is many countries packed in one geographical receptacle. Prominently, India is a unique country in the world which has an excellent confluence of distinct ethnic groups, languages, diverse geography and climate, diversity of religious and cultural practices with a range of economic development that India does.In the words of Nehru, “by strong but invisible threads...,a myth and an idea, a dream and a vision, and yet very real and present and pervasive”. These words of Pt. Nehru reflect the philosophy and idea of India as well as unity in the diversity of this country.

India is the pious land of saints, monks, enlightened personalities and revolutionaries. This land has been vindication of numerous revolutions, movements and battles. These personalities descended on this land for the Welfare of mankind and impart their messages of righteousness and universal brotherhood. Malviyaji was one of those enlightened and dauntless personalities. It is regarded, Malviyaji established Banaras Hindu University to promote modern education. Apart from that the field of education, he made tremendous contributionsto socio-cultural and economic areas.

Malviyaji's Views on Various Phenomena:

His Views on Nationalism and Patriotism

With a fervent desire for nationalism Malviyaji’s heart could not accept the narrow and aggressive nature of nationalism. Hence, Malviyaji opposed the vaulting nationalism of Hitler and Mussolini which culminated in dictatorial ideologies like Nazism and Fascism and which led to the second world war. Malviyaji’s concept of cultural nationalism was based on ancient principles of Hinduism and philosophy. The basis of his nationalist concept was profound and vast. Malviyaji stated, “No Indian is entitled to the honour being called a patriot, be he a Hindu, Mohammedan, Christian or Parsi who desired for a moment that any follow -countryman belonging distinctive race, creed or religion.... should desire equally the good of all our countrymen alike”.

Tagore’s views on nationalism also reflect the same idea. A collection of his lectures on nationalism was published in 1917 with the same title and his lectures denote Tagore’s unconventional; integrated views on Indian nationalism.  The main focus of his deliberation is that the true spirit of nationalism lies in its broad humanistic concern rather than confined political strategy.  Tagore’s perception of nationalism mainly evokes ancient Indian philosophy, where the world was accepted as a single nest. Here we find the same idea of nationalism revealed by Madan Mohan Malviya and Gurudev Tagore. Both of them discard the idea of narrow nationalism.

His Views on Secularism:

Malviyaji considered religions as the medium of sublime of the person beyond the religious dogmatism, fanaticism and bigotry. In Indian ethics, the concept of religion is attainment of all human values i.e. ‘Dhriti, Kshama, Damo, Asteyam, Suchi, IndriyaNigraha, Dhihi, Vidya, Satyam, Akrodho;Edam DharmasyaDakshakaLakshanam’ (Patience, forgiveness, self-restraint, not steeling, purity, obstentiousness, wisdom, truth, angerlessness). Mentioned inManusmriti). ‘ParhitSaris DharamNahi Bhai’ (There is no religion like the Welfare and charity stated inRamcharitmanas by Tulsidas). Ramkrishna says (Religion is the manifestation of divinity already in man). There are enormous examples in Indian ethics and philosophy that reveal the idea that humanism is the true religion. Secularism is not just an anti-religion it is the acceptance of all in its various colours and shapes. Secularism reveal the idea of pluralism and inclusiveness.

Malviya Ji elaborated the fragrance of secularism all-around. He asserted “if you admit internal purity of human soul, you on your religion can never get immured or defiled in any way by touching or associating with any man”. He worked for the eradication of caste barriers in temples and other social obstacles. He made massive efforts to ensure and promote the entry of untouchables into any Hindu temple. He tried to break distinctions among people. He evoked “We are the people of one nation. India is the land of Hindus, Muslims, Parsis and Christians. Now days have gone, it is not identified as Hindu state or Muslim state. It is now Hindustan”.

His Views on Federalism

The relevance of Malviyaji’s views on provincial autonomy, especially on economic issues, is clear on the basis that he opposed the economic policy of the then central government. Malviya Ji profoundly supported the establishment of a powerful union for the country as well as provincial autonomy which later became an essential feature of the Indian constitution. In the Second Round Table conference, he stated “For the defence of the motherland and for the progress of the entire people who live in that land were the people of the state would combine allegiance to the rulers of their own states with fidelity to our common motherland”.

The Indian Industrial Commission Report 1916 to 1918

On March 21, 1916 AbrahimRohimtoola moved a resolution in the Viceroy's Legislative Council for the appointment of a commission to report on the measures to adopt for the development and to flourish industries in India. He urged that the fiscal autonomy should be granted to the Indian government as an essential step. The Industrial Commission was constituted with ten members. Mahamana was one of them.

This committee went ahead to open the report which comprised of nearly 300 pages which included nearly 50 pages of an independent note by Malviyaji. Malviyaji vehemently opposed the committee's approach towards Indian industries. He presented excellent capacities and adequacies of Indian Industries as it had been for a long time. In this report India was projected as a country that had not yet commenced industrialization and was not capable to do so with all its deficiencies and drawbacks.

The first chapter of the report deals with India as an industrial country, her present position, and her potentialities. They show how little, the march of money industry has affected the great bulk of the Indian population, which remains engrossed in agriculture, winning a bare subsistence from the sail by the antiquated method of cultivation. The report goes on to say “India produces nearly all the new materials... but is unable to manufacture many of the articles and materials...her great textile industries are dependent upon supplies of imported machinery and would have to shut down if the command of the seas were lost”[5]. The next chapter deals with the Indians industries. They discuss measures designed to improve the efficiency of the Indian artisans.It is shown that the relative lowness of wages ispaid to Indianlabourer and inefficiency of the individual India workman.

There are just a few extracts to illustrate the very mind-set and mentality of Britishers with which this report was presented. Very shrewdly and intricately they created an illusion to present inadequacies and weaknesses of Indian Industries as well as targeted at the Indians and the aptitudes. The committee justified the discrimination on frivolous grounds. In this way, once developed and flourished Indian economy, commerce,trade, and prosperity in every sphere of life for thousands of years, suffered such a pitiable plight in the hands of colonizers.

Malviyaji’s Note of Dissent to the Indian Industrial Commission Report 1916-1918:

Being one of the esteemed members of that committee, he firmly made a note of dissent towards their approach and exposed the colonizer’s mischievous tendency with his sharp intellect and profound sensibility.

1. The commission’s report besides all its critical observation and sensibility gave the following two proposals: In the future, the government must play an active part in the industrial development of the country to make India more self-contained in respect of men and materials.
2. That it is impossible to undertake that part unless provided with adequate administrative equipment and forearmed with reliable scientific and technical advice.

Perhaps, these two points appeared as faint rays of hope to Malviyaji which should have reinforced his determination for building an educational institution which not only equipped the Indian youth with technology engineering and science etc, but also set a milestone to measure future growth and development of Indian economy as such.Malviyaji opposed commission's decision profoundly with logical arguments and lucid recollection of vital evidence.

Malviyaji quotes William Clark as it was stated by him that "the building up of industries where the capital, control and management should be in the hands of Indians...” [6].He emphasised that Indians should take a larger share in the industrial development of their country. Malviyaji with this reference commenced his statement.“I have repeatedly been reminded of the erroneous notion which many European hold that India is, and must remain, a mainly agricultural country, that the people of India are by nature and tradition deficient in industrial capacity and commercial enterprise, and that these qualities are inherent in the nations of the West. It is also necessary for a proper appreciation of the present industrial condition of India and the possibilities of its future development, that the facts and circumstances of the past should be correctly known and appreciated. It is fact that when the west of Europe, the birthplace of the modern industrial system was inhabited by its uncivilized tribes India was famous for the wealth of rulers and high artistic skill of her craftsmen”. Further he asserts..... “I do not agree with them as to the causes which they assign for the subsequent growth of industries in England, and, by implication, for the want of the growth of such industries in India” [7].

Malviyaji applied a unique pattern and justification while penning his note of dissent which was the culmination of his tireless work. Malviyaji coherently conveys in his note that there has been large-scale devastation of three longstanding and well flourishing industries of India. As follows:

1.     The Cotton and Textile industry

2.     The Iron Industry

3.     Ship Making and Shipping Industry.

Malviyaji shows his anguish how invaders not only devastated once flourished, developed and prosperous economy but also created menaces and sufferings in the life of these capable and efficient Indians. Malviyaji manifested its past glory through the description made by a few historians. He presents the statement of Professor Weber, author of the “History of India” and quotes him while referring to the cotton industry of India.

Malviyaji quotes Professor Weber “The skills of the Indians, in the production of delicate fabrics.... the working of metals and precious stones..... there is evidence that Babyloan traded with India in 3000 BC.Thus it may be safely concluded that in India the arts of cotton spinning and cotton weaving were in a high state of proficiency two thousand years ago....” [8]

Prof Weber 298 In Ind. Comm Report:

Malviyaji goes on and gives copious evidence to show the glory of the Cotton Industry and Iron Industry. He states “the iron industry not only supplied all local wants but it also enabled India to export it's finished products to foreign countries....... the famous Iron Pillar near Delhi......skill in the manufacture of wrought iron.....The Indian steel found once considerable demand for cutlery even in England”. On the glorious ship building and sea faring industries Malviyaji quotes the Governor-General Lord Wellesley “The port of Culcutta contains about 10,000 tons of shipping, built in India, of a description calculated for the conveynce of Cargoes to England.[9].

Malviyaji gathers ample sources to draw the attention of the committee towards the glorious and industrial past of India. He analyses the reason for the decline of Industries and draws evidence from the historians and colonial officers. Presenting a glimpse of three continuous flourishing Indian Industries Malviyaji puts it for the arguments. He writes in his note that the East India company which obtained its charter from Queen Elizabeth on 31st of December 1600 to trade with the East Indies. Here, Malviyaji presents the efficiency and Excellent skill of Indian Artisans and its products and manufacture commodities.

About Indian silk and woollen garments, he states that these garments were imported to England, and they found such favour that their industries were seriously alarmed. Malviyaji cites the observations of Robert Clive as recorded in the ‘Economic History of British India’ by Rana De. He quotes “When Clive entered Murshidabad, the old capital of Bengal, in 1757, he wrote about the prosperity of the city” [10]. Through this statement Malviyaji shows the conspiracy of ill-suited policies of Colonisers who devastated the flourished industries of India. India’s large economy based on industries were collapsed and pushed towards the agrarian model for the large part of its economy. He quotes civil servant and economic historian Ramesh Chandra Dutta from his book “Economic History of India Under Early British rule”. Dutta writes “In their letter to Bengal dated 17 March 1769, the company desired that the manufacture of raw silk should be encouraged in Bengal, and that of the manufactured silkfabrics should be discouraged.They also recommended that the silk winders should be forced to work in the company’s factories and prohibited from working in their own homes” [11].

It exhibits now, the genesis of the decay in the Indian textile industry is not a very different story about the decay of the ship making as well as shipping industry of India. Malviyaji quotes Mr. Taylor who has said “The arrival in the port of London of Indian produced and India- built ship created a sensation among the.....their business was on the point of ruin [12].Consequently, the British administrators decided to starve the Indian workers and shipwrights rather than the workers and ship rights of England. Malviyaji shows the root of the problem and indicates the gruesome and devastating policies of that time.

Ramesh Chandra Dutta underlines the brutal policies of Britishers. The mills of Paisley and Manchester flourished that time. They sold cotton and silk of India and acquired 70% to 80% profit. Their mills and industries were developed by the sacrifice of the Indian manufacturers. He underlines English industries would not have advanced so rapidly without protection [13].

Malviyaji also underlined the recruitment of scientific and technical services how Indians were discriminated and deprived in getting higher post. The Imperial service had become the monopoly of Europeans, while Indians have been confined to the provincial services.

Malviyaji raised his voice against it and the royal Commission recognised the injustice that had been done to Indians in their practical exclusion from the scientific and technical services.