“The greatness of Lord Hardinge lay in his intense sympathy with the people of India in their aspirations, in the insight he had acquired in consequence into their feelings and in his quick responsiveness to public opinion. The bold stand he took in respect of the question of Indians in South Africa, his intervention in the Cawnpore Mosque affair, the striking diplomatic way in which he induced his own council and the Secretary of State to undo the partition of Bengal, and the great interest he took in regard to the eventual abolition of indentured Indian labour are some of the instances in which he exhibited those rare qualities of head and heart which have struck the imagination of Indians”.
APRIL 4, 1916
Lord Hardinge’s viceroyalty.
LORD HARDINGE IS LAYING DOWN TODAY THE REINS OF THE office of Viceroy and Governor-General of India after a strenuous period of service extending to five years-and-a-half during which he has been able to inspire the trust and confidence of the people of India as few Viceroys have done before. When the causes of this striking popularity are analysed, it will be found that it is not on account of any important administrative reforms, or the removal of old sores that His Excellency’s Viceroyalty has become one of the most memorable. The affection and regard of the people of India for the retiring Viceroy have been rather the result of a sympathetic imagination, which Lord Hardinge possessed, which has enabled him to steer clear of rocks which some of his masterful predecessors, lacking in the gift, have struck against, and to feel with the people for the people. Critics of his administration can be divided into two classes; one section have exaggerated ideas of the powers, statutory or otherwise, of Viceroys, and another, in right Anglo-Indian fashion, fall foul of all those acts of the holder of that high office which partake of the nature of righting of wrongs, or of respecting public opinion – acts which, in the eyes of these watchdogs of prestige, imply weakness and sickly sentimentality on the part of the author. The greatness of Lord Hardinge lay in his intense sympathy with the people of India in their aspirations, in the insight he had acquired in consequence into their feelings and in his quick responsiveness to public opinion. The bold stand he took in respect of the question of Indians in South Africa, his intervention in the Cawnpore mosque affair, the striking diplomatic way in which he induced his own Council and the Secretary of State to undo the partition of Bengal, and the great interest he took in regard to the eventual abolition of indentured Indian labour are some of the instances in which he exhibited those rare qualities of head and heart which have struck the imagination of Indians. His Madras speech on the South African situation created a stir and was considered imprudent, if not impudent by people not only in the colonies, but also in Great Britain. But he literally won the hearts of Indians by thus identifying himself with the Indian national sentiment. Referring to that utterance, Lord Hardinge said yesterday, in his reply to the address presented by the Indian Merchants’ Chamber and Bureau: “Though I was criticised in some quarters for the warmth with which I spoke at Madras on this topic, I can say honestly that I never had any serious twinges of conscience on that account, and I spoke what I felt, and if I did not measure my words with absolute nicety, the strength of my feeling and the excellence of my cause must plead my excuse.” Conciliation has been his watchword and his part in the Cawnpore mosque affair, which has been bitterly criticised as being a concession to clamour, has shown him to be a man who brushes prestige aside when the feelings of a whole people are concerned, a characteristic feature which he had already shown in the annulment of the partition of Bengal. Lord Hardinge has always been zealous to consolidate the Council reforms of Lords Morley and Minto; he gave an Executive Council to Bihar and Orissa and provided an elected majority to the same Legislative Council. His effort to give an Executive Council to the United Provinces failed owing to the misguided action of a reactionary party in the House of Lords. Lord Hardinge, representing the opinions and feelings of the people of India, criticised in strong terms this obstructive policy of a small party and pleaded for a change in the procedure by which it was possible for the wishes of a united people to be thwarted by men who were out of touch with the country the affairs of which, however they presumed to judge and control. Lord Hardinge’s term will also be remembered for the fact that, as Mr. Montagu had stated, that “at last and not too soon, a Viceroy has had the courage to state the trend of British policy in India and the lines on which we propose to advance.” The outgoing Viceroy has recently repeated his faith in that policy which he said had been described in plain English. In Paragraph 3 of the Despatch of the Government of India, for which Lord Hardinge was responsible, the true remedy for the just demand of Indians for a larger share in the Government of the country is thus described:– “The only possible solution of the difficulty would appear to be gradually to give the provinces a larger measure of self-government until at last India would consist of a number of administrations autonomous in all provincial affairs, with the Government of India above them all, and possessing power to interfere in case of misgovernment, ordinarily restricting their functions to matters of Imperial concern.” The profound interest Lord Hardinge took in educational matters is well known and greatly appreciated. The recurring grant of Rs. 50 lakhs for Elementary Education, the munificent grant for Universities, the concern he showed for the welfare of students, the great faith he expressed in the necessity for the diffusion of higher education and the multiplication of Universities, the practical interest he exhibited by assisting in the promotion of the Benares University and the Mysore University, have earned for him a high place in the estimation of the educated classes in India. The spirit of his administration, the lofty ideal which inspired it and the large space which India has occupied in His Excellency’s heart, have deeply moved the Indian people who are sincerely sorry that the hour of farewell has at last arrived. How cordially he reciprocated the feelings of the people towards him, he has himself stated in his replies to addresses yesterday. He said that when in England one of his chief endeavours would be to make the British public appreciate the pace at which India was developing, both socially and politically and that it was vain and useless to regard India from the standpoint of what India was ten years ago. As regards the reason of his success, he told his audience: “I have trusted India, I have believed in India, I have hoped with India, I have feared with India, I have wept with India, I have rejoiced with India, and in a word I have identified myself with India”. These words show the genuine warmth of Lord Hardinge’s devotion to the interests of this country and its people. In estimating the achievements and worth of a Viceroy, thoughtful persons must have due regard to the limitations under which that high functionary has to work. The Hon’ble Mr. Vijiaraghava Chariar said in his speech in the Imperial Council: “The historian of India in appraising the value of a Viceroy should take into account not only what he has done but also the very special conditions and limitations under which he did it…. My belief is that in achieving what you did, mylord, you have educated your Hon’ble colleagues of the Executive Council and inspired them into more solid work of higher principles and into loftier ideals, both by precept and example. I consider this achievement of much more national importance than specific instances of policy and measures connected with education and sanitation”. It may truly be said that India parts with Lord Hardinge as Viceroy with as much genuine and deep regret as that expressed by him when, yesterday, he said: “I am filled with a deep regret that the moment has come for me to close the book that has been of such enthralling interest.” May Heaven bless Lord Hardinge with many years of life, health and happiness.
Reference:
The First 100
A Selection of Editorials, 1878-1978, THE HINDU, VOLUME I