Romain Rolland's Appreciation almost impossible to _understand the character, philosophy fand policy of the subject of this book unless you have been to India, read Macaulay's essay on Warren Hastings, and come to definite conclusions on the differences in life, thought and habits which may divide for ever Englishmen from the peoples of India. Romain Rolland has contented himself by writing a biotsraphy and not a study of Gandhi; and although he is very sympathetic to his subject he refrains from com-nitting himself. It is a well-written biography, but except for some clever. passages showing the cleave age between the philosophy Tagore and Gandhi's, adds nothing to what we already Know "about the—inost_ markable man in India. This is a pity, because M. Rolland has nothing to lose by declaring himself a believer, with qualifications, Ghandi,' if He really is one.' Two notable Englishmen, Mr. C. F. Andrews and Mx. W. W. Pearson, and thers, have done so without" any, Joss of prestige, And, with certain reservations, I can see no grave reasons for' not believing. in what true and wise in his policy.
The chief of these reservations is that Gandhi's policy, if it were adopted in its complete form to-day, Would not produce happiness. and prosperity in India, but the, darkest chaos. When travelling in India you realise the dreadful ignorance the vast majority of the people {ind their impotence to govern them-elves. Gandhi docs. not believe this, no fanatical reformer ever og. complished anything by doing. #0. Treferved to Macaulay's essay' on Warren Hastings. Warren Hastings believed in one of the first articles of Gandhi's faith;.edueation of the peoples of India in their own, religions, philosophies and. litera~ tures, myall that belongs to their natures and. the things) of thole peace. "OF these the vast majority Know nothing. If this policy had been caryled out there might, stil have been the need of Gandhi to express the soul of a nation, alien In'every way to us, but there would have been no need of his fanaticism: and its practical application. His Policy of passive resistance during th] a 20 years' struggle for. the rights Indians in South Africa envied its Just victory, but, on. returning te india "he made the mistake of Doginning & similar campaign where the necessity for it did not exist. 'AMI that it was necessary to do to achieve his best purpose was to in-Sist upon system of education that would have. made. India and mot England ov Burope, " living country the millions who axe its peoples. That. was what Warren. Hastingy desired, what. Gandhi still desires, tind what must be, 1 the British Raj remain sao and beneficial; i€ it is to be reversed asa benevolent protection for all these children of the sun, and not hated, to be finally own Deeause it comes to. be egurded as a despotism backed by gun_and sword, BL. Rolland might Have said as. much, for. reading Dotween his linen he' believes it to be India's chief need—"Daily,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.