“To our own mind Mr. Dadabhai’s election (to the British Parliament) has appeared significant not merely because it might directly or indirectly do good to our country but also because it shows the generous and truly imperial character of the English people. Those that are jealous of Indian progress affect to see no political significance in the event. But to all thoughtful and impartial minds this significance must be obvious. It has already raised the British character in the estimation of the Indian people”.
AUGUST 20, 1892
Lord Harris on Dadabhai Naoroji
IT WAS VERY GOOD OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD HARRIS TO HAVE publicly expressed his sympathy with the feeling that Mr. Dadabhai Naoroji’s election to Parliament has roused in this country. All his countrymen here do not look upon this event with the same feeling. Some have hardly cared to conceal their ill-feeling. They have called Dadabhai hard names; they have expressed their disgust at the action of the electors who are found fault with for having preferred an Indian to a countryman of theirs; and the importance of the event they have endeavoured to minimise by questioning the representative character of Dadabhai and his ability to do any good to this country. Others have simply ignored the event, as if the progress of the world depended upon their recognition of that progress from time to time. To our own mind Mr. Dadabhai’s election has appeared significant not merely because it might directly or indirectly do good to our country but also because it shows the generous and truly imperial character of the English people. Those that are jealous of Indian progress affect to see no political significance in the event. But to all thoughtful and impartial minds this significance must be obvious. It has already raised the British character in the estimation of the Indian people. In his book on “Imperial Defence” Sir Charles Dilke writes a good deal of the moral power of the British nation being based on its military prowess. This is no doubt so; but this moral power is impaired by such deeds of kindly and generous sympathy towards the Indian people as the Liberal electors of Central Finsbury have distinguished themselves by. Like the experienced and enlightened statesman that he is, Lord Harris finds no reason to cry down the election merely because he belongs to the party to which Mr. Dadabhai is opposed. The division of political parties in the United Kingdom has no significance so far as Indians are concerned; and as an Indian citizen and an Indian tax-payer His Excellency joins in the congratulation that is pouring on the veteran Parsee patriot from every corner of India. Even apart from the political significance of the event and what good it may do to this country, it is certainly one that deserves a prominent record in the history of this country. Mr. Dadabhai Naoroji did not obtain his seat in the House of Commons for the mere asking of it. He waged a regular seven years’ war as Mr. Mehta put it. He fought not merely against the Conservatives who were his natural opponents, but also against the party under whose banner he offered to fight. The Liberal party treated him very shabbily and altogether the serious and manifold difficulties that confronted him throughout the struggle would have unnerved a less resolute and less courageous mind. He has shown such extraordinary patience and perseverance and self-reliance that his name might well be cherished with cherished with admiration and gratitude by posterity.
Reference:
The First 100
A Selection of Editorials, 1878-1978, THE HINDU, VOLUME I