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vol. title: Vol Four of The Theosophical Society of The Arya Samaj of Arya-wart vol. period: Sept 1878 – Sept 1879 pages in vol.: 350 |
By the bye, where is Ranade, the Ranade of Ranades, Mahadev Govind Ranade? I can prove to demonstration that he is a traitor, a malcontent. “What are his faults?” you ask. Faults, Sir,? they are crimes, black, heinous crimes. Imprimis, a Maratha Brahmim; 2, M. A., L. L. B., 3, decides cases equitably between Englishman and native, 4, declines to believe that India is happy when he finds it to the contrary (oh ingrate, how dare you!) 5, says publicly that Christianity has a few faults, Hinduism a few merits (oh reprobate, reprobate!) Is this man worthy to live under enlightened British rule? Sir, I have seen him dine with his own people! What more need I say? But why go to Poona and Nassik. Here is Manguldas Nathoobhoy, whom you have made a Knight and Companion of the Star of India. And how subtle his modes of sedition. Sir, he actually swallows English—medicines every morning (oh murder in open daylight); who has often led that seditious body, the Bombay Association; who owns that Hydraheaded, Cassandra-mouthed man, Nowrozji Furdoonji his friend, that Nowrozji Furdoonji who, since the days of Mountstuart Elphinstone, has cast abroad among India’s twenty million souls the seeds of discontent and wild desire for freedom of speech (Blank verse. antique rhyme). Then look at Mr. Dinsha Manekji Petit. For the last twenty years has that man helped young Parsis to marry. And according to the latest obtained statistics that man has raised a secret army of twenty thousand lusty Parsi lads. And latterly he has become President of the Bombay Association. Ah, how natural the transition from hidden discontent to open sedition? In February last, or thereabouts, these eyes beheld Mr. Dinsha exercising with that hero of our age, General Kessowji Nayak. (Kessowji Nayak is third cousin to Hari Nayak the Dacoit, let me tell you in confidence). I saw the two veterans flourishing huge ledger in each other’s faces, exchanging strong language, and every way kicking up a make-believe fight. Then look at Morarji Goculdas, whom, some malicious wag describes as “an able and accomplished gentleman.” Sir, that man is a traitor, Sir, he is a—homœopath, and he publicly avows that though a mill owner he loves his country. Oh, the profligacy of the age! But there are worse traitors—The Sarvajanik Sabhat the Amrita Bazar Patrika. The former body pokes its fingers into every body’s pie. It is the mother of that viper brood, sedition, disloyalty, dacoity, incendiarism. The latter body is a busy body too. It’s name is Awbrita, ambrosia that is to say; but it is used ironically. It vomits poison every week. To strangle it was called into being the righteous Vernacular Press Act. But the thing proved too subtle even for that; and to this day it lives and breathes, ay, breathes a spirit of murderous treason. And is not the sun a participator in the crime? Does not he shine on India, on the arrant traitor. Has not Squire John Bull paid enormous sums for a monopoly of his light? And here is the venerable thief, shining on this heathen land on the sly. Ah, does it not vex Squire John’s Christian soul? But he is a lucky man, the Squire, in the possession of such a genius as Master Dizzy for his Accountant. This faithful and worthy servitor, along with some brother magicians, is resolved to weave a spell, a mumboo-jum boo, an abracadabra which are ancient and venerated equivalents for what is now re-christened “rectification of a Scientific Frontier.” With this spell will Messrs. Dizzy and Co. check the eccentric liberalism of the sun. For, it is a matter of history that the sun, the sea, the air, heavens, all these were made by a Christian God for the use of Christian England. As for benighted India let her be content with her darkness and her drought, her famine and her cholera; and let her be thankful she is allowed these blessings. Is she not a conquered country?—B. R.
Mr. Wasudev Balvant Phadke, the alledged leader of the dacoits is thought to be ubiquitous. He is supposed to lead the gang of the dacoits and at the same time supposed to be present at the Russian Court. A letter has appeared in the columns of the Indu Prakash from the pen of Madam H. P. Blavatsky in which she says that a certain Indian Prince is said to be making a tour, in Russia. The Deccan Herald says perhaps the Prince in question is Wasudev Balvant otherwise known as Shivaji the second, why wont Government take up the suggestion and ransack the province the alleged leader is supposed to roam over. The letter in question runs as follows:—
Sir,—Ever since my arrival here, in February, with an hospitality and persistence worthy of a better cause, I have been hailed by every class of Society as a secret emissary of the Russian Government—a “spy” to call things by their proper names. And yet, so poorly informed am I by the authorities of my Native country of the ways and doings of the Russian police, that, in my ardent curiosity, I have now to apply to you for help. Will you kindly put your head together with mine to try and “guess” who may possibly be a certain mysterious individual who has recently appeared in Russia? He calls himself a “Prince of India,” and provoking the greatest curiosity in the general public is, at the same time, received as an honoured guest by the St. Petersburgh “court”—though, as I am informed, secretly. This is what one of the numerous papers, I receive, says of him, mentioning his arrival. I translate verbatim:—
“A few days ago, arrived at Moscow, on his way from Petersburgh to Samara the Hindoostanee Prince Ramchander Balajee of Bhetoor. Colonel and aide de camp on the General Staff, the Count N. Y. Rostovtzoff has been placed at the orders of the Prince, and now forms a part of his numerous suite.
Who is this Prince? He evidently belongs to the Native place, if he is not actually of kin to the famous Nana Saheb of course. Though news for your readers, this piece of information will be stale for the omniscient Police of India, who, for instance, have discovered in a twinkling of the eye that I was a dangerous Russian spy. They must certainly know all about this mirific Prince. How provoking then, that they will not tell!
Espionage in India.
Sir,—I venture to trouble you with the following facts, thinking that they should be known to the English public, which has some interest in being informed of methods of government in India, and how, and with what wisdom, public money is there expended.
Last February, there arrived at Bombay, from New York and London, a party consisting of American citizens and two English. They purposed to take up their residence in India with the chief object of studying the religious antiquities of that country. They were also members of a reformatory society recently established there by the energy of certain distinguished native scholars and philanthropists, who had conceived the idea of raising the people out of superstition and idolatry by spreading a knowledge of the purer religion of their ancestors, as disclosed in the Vedic Scriptures, in which some of their number were profoundly versed. Nothing could be more remote from their intentions or interests than political concerns; and, indeed, the leaders are attached to the English Government by the most mature conviction that it is the best one possible for India. Of the American party, one, Colonel H. S. Olcott, has occupied to my knowledge important public positions in the United States, held a commission from his Government to report upon commercial affairs in India, and was provided with a special recommendation, under the hand of the President, to the American Consuls in India and other States which he might have to visit. These documents I have myself seen. Nevertheless, this very innocent party had hardly landed at Bombay when a report, originating, it is believed, with an enemy (a native), whose character they have had occasion to expose, reached the police authorities to the effect that they were there for the purpose of spreading disaffection to the Government, and that one of them, a lady, who had become a citizen of the United States, was a Russian spy. I am at liberty to quote the following from a private letter of this lady, which will tell the rest of the story:—
“Our party was dogged by two European detectives and by native spies through our whole journey of 3,000 miles (through India). Our steps were followed, letters intercepted, native friends cross-questioned and bullied in the hope of finding something against us; mounted policemen followed us when we went to post letters. Of course, there being nothing to discover, nothing was discovered, but we were subjected to insult and annoyance, though Colonel Olcott frankly exhibited our American passports, went to see the political agents of every city, and explained our object to no less than five of these police commissioners. Immediately upon our reaching the Bombay terminus upon our return after a month’s journey, we drove to the American Consul’s, and he officially demanded an explanation. The answer is a pitiable and cowardly evasion. The Consul has carried the matter up to the Viceroy, as he is determined that his law-abiding countrymen shall either be free to travel where they like or a sufficient reason be given. Some of the correspondence between you and us may have been tampered with, as other has been. The present is sent under the Consul’s seal, and until the Viceroy has settled our matter your English letters should all come under cover to the care of the American Consul, and be registered. The Viceroy in a recent circular enjoined the utmost and strictest economy to all his subordinates; yet at least several thousand rupees have been spent in this dirty and stupid business of following us.”
A letter to another friend remarks that the bare suggestion against any one of being an agent of Russian intrigue is enough to make all the officials of India lose their heads.
My letters from Colonel Olcott (through the Consulate) are in exact agreement with the above account, which I hope you will see fit to publish.
C. C. Massey.
Colonel H. S. Olcott.
A paragraph recently appeared in the “Echoes from Abroad” column of the Colonial Empire and Star of India, reflecting upon the character of this American gentleman, who is at present in India, and it was copied into the Times of India and other Indian papers. We are anxious to assure Colonel Olcott that the substance of the paragraph in question was taken from the columns of an American paper, and inserted inadvertently. From the letter which Colonel Olcott has addressed to the Times of India, and from the assurances we have received from a gentleman of high position in London, we do not hesitate in expressing our belief that the statements made in the objectionable paragraph are entirely without foundation. We therefore take the earliest opportunity of assuring Colonel Olcott and those to whom it refers that we much regret its insertion.
Editor's notes
- ↑ By the bye, where is Ranade... by unknown author (signed as B. R.), Deccan Star, The, Sunday, June 22, 1879
- ↑ Handwritten “9” over the printed “2”. The writer has not been identified.
- ↑ Mr. Wasudev Balvant Phadke, the alledged leader of the dacoits... by Blavatsky, H. P., Deccan Star, The, Sunday, June 29, 1879. The pasted Poona dateline reads “29ht”, a printed source error, not handwriting.
- ↑ “LONDON” is handwritten; printed “THE” is crossed out. The writer has not been identified.
- ↑ Espionage in India. by Massey, C. C., London Times, Friday, June 13, 1879. The printed word “THE” is crossed out in the masthead.
- ↑ Probably in HPB’s handwriting; “the” is underlined.
- ↑ Colonel H. S. Olcott. by unknown author, Home and Colonial Mail, London, Friday, June 13, 1879