Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/325

 feel and I fear that the vision which the poet pictured for himself is far from being realised. As you have heard me say perhaps, or as you have read, I am and I have been a determined opponent of modern civilisation. I want you to turn your.eyes to-day upon what is going on in Europe and if you have come to the conclusion that Europe is to-day groaning under the heels of the modern civilization then you and your elders will have to think twice before you can emulate that civilisation in our Motherland. But I have been told, " How can we help it, seeing that our rulers bring that culture to our Motherland/' Do not make any mistake about it at all. I do not for one moment believe that it is for any rulers to bring that culture to you, unless you are prepared to accept it, and if it be that the rulers bring that culture before us I think that we have forces within ourselves to enable us to reject that culture without having to reject the rulers themselves. (Applause). I have said on many a platform thai the British race is with us. I decline to go into the reasons why that race is with us, but I do believe that it is possible for India if she would but live upto the traditions of the sages of whom you have heard from bur worthy president, to transmit a message through this great race, a message not of physical might, but a message of love. And 'then, it will be your privilege to conquer the conquerors not by shed- ding blood but by sheer force of spiritual predominence. When I consider what is going on to-day in India, I think it is necessary for us to say what our opinion is in connection with the political assassinations and political dacoities. I feel that these are purely a foreign impor- tation which cannot take root in this land. But you the student world have to beware, lest mentally or

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