Hind Swaraj by M.K. Gandhi - Part Three : Why Was India Lost?

 

In the opening argument of this part of the book Gandhi declares that “The English have not taken India; we have given it to them. They are not in India because of their strength, but because we keep them”

Gandhi then explains what exactly he means when he says we have given our country to the English and it is ‘we’ to blame for our colonization.

Gandhi explains how the original motive of the Britishers when they came to India was to trade and at that time they did not have any intentions of establishing a kingdom in India. But, as Gandhi says, we motivated them to establish their kingdom in India. It was Indians who assisted the British officers to navigate and communicate with Indian people. It was Indians who were tempted by greed at the sight of their silver and agreed to assist the British in every way. It was Indians who bought British goods and created a demand for their goods. English merchants were able to get a footing in India because we encouraged them.

Gandhi says that it is useless to blame the British for we did not do anything to stop them when they were weak. Our princes kept fighting among themselves. Hindus and Muslims were ready to kill each other in the name of religion.

                      Hence, Gandhi says that it is not accurate to say that India was lost. Instead, the correct statement to say would be, “We gave India to English”

 

How the Britishers retained India?

 

Gandhi says that holding India by the sword is futile. Meaning, it is impossible to rule India forcibly by the use of force. It is we who keep them.

                                       Gandhi elaborates that we have kept the Britishers in India. Britishers stayed in India because it was profitable for them. Money is their god and they could use the raw materials in India to make profits for themselves. But they could not stay here without our assistance.

                                      Gandhi says, we Indians like their commerce and the Britishers smart as they are, please us by their subtle methods and get what they want from us, and we further strengthen their hold by quarreling among ourselves.

 

Again, Gandhi asserts that their arms and ammunition are completely useless against India. They are here because we have allowed them to be.

Finally, Gandhi ends his discussion on the topic with his remarks on the dedication of the British to accomplish their goals,

                                    They wish to convert the whole world into a vast market for their goods. They   

                                    cannot do so is true, but the blame will not be theirs. They will leave no stone

                                    unturned to reach the goal.