Page:Eyesore - Rabindranath Tagore.pdf/24

Rh Vihari—"Of course it does. My forehead is already aching to be treated, but I'm afraid the fates have written that it's got to get well without it. The writing in Dada's forehead is of different character."

Binodini left off moistening the bandage and said: "In that case I'd better leave the friend to treat his friend."

Vihari was at heart feeling far from cheerful. He had been recently immersed in his studies, and knew nothing of the tangled situation which Mahendra, Asha and Binodini had created for themselves. To-day he saw through Binodini. Binodini also had a glimpse of the stuff he was made of.

There was a note of sharpness in his tone as he replied, "Quite right. The friend will look after his friend. I brought the headache, I'm taking it away with me. Why waste the eau-de-cologne?" Turning to Asha he said: "Let me impress on you, sister, that prevention is easier as well as better than cure."

OMETIME back I wrote an article headed "A plea for Instruction through the Vernaculars" (The Modern Review, May, 1912), in the columns of this journal. I want in the course of this article to supplement some of the ideas expressed in that article.

Funds for the proposed Hindu University are being accumulated by and by, though as is the case with every other movement, the agitation in connection with this university has its seasons of slackness and comparative inertness. Whatever form the University may take, it will decidedly be an element of good, for it is my firm conviction that activity, in whatever channel it is directed, is productive of ultimate advantages. It may appear paradoxical, but even a base and wicked form of activity eventually brings in its train more benefit than inert laziness. We Indians ate naturally a lot of "philosophical" people, and far from having any danger of our activity being misdirected, we sadly lack activity. Our sole aim should be the throwing off of our lethargy and setting ourselves to work of any variety whatsoever.

For these reasons I repeat that the Hindu University will be an element of good, and its promoters, notable among whom is Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, are to be warmly thanked and congratulated.

The promoters of the scheme are bent upon securing for the University a charter which will give it the hall-mark of other universities and make it a fit engine for the turning out of graduates in arts and science. They may have as their model the Muhammadan University. But if mere words and imitation have no charm, the Hindu University can do more good than by aspiring to make it an exact counterpart of the Muhammadan University. Men may be dazzled by the mention of the words "University" and "National University" and crowds may be attracted towards the electric lustre shed forth by these terms. But the fact remains that unless some clear turn is taken from the avowed aims and objects of the existing universities, the Hindu University will merely add to their number. What will the bare change embodied in having additional religious education mean to the Hindu University? For this easy though momentous object, simple and cheap provisions may be made in every town of importance by having Hindu Student's Associations. And if this is the worth of the whole change, in what material res-