Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/339

 HINDU UNIVERSITY SPEECH.

The following is the full text of the speech delivered oil Feb. Mh 1916, on the occasion of the opening of the Benares Hindu University. The speech was edited by Mr. Gandhi. " In editing the speech " he wrote, " I have merely removed some of the verbiage which in cold print would make the speech bad reading"

Friends, I wish to tender my humble apology for the long delay that took place before I am able to reach this place. And you will readily accept the apology when I tell you that I am not responsible for the delay nor is any human agency responsible for it. (Laughter) The fact is that I am like an animal on show, and my keepers in their over kindness always manage to neg- lect a necessary chapter in this life, and that is pure accident. In this case, they did not provide for the series of accidents that happened to us to me, keepers, and my carriers. Hence this delay.

Friends, under the influence of the matchless eloquence of the lady (Mrs. Besant) who has just sat down, pray, do not believe that our University has become a finished product, and that all the young men who are to come to the University, that has yet to rise and come into existence, have also come and returned from it finished citizens of a great empire. Do not go away with any such impression, and if you, the student world to which my remarks are sup- posed to be addressed this evening, consider for one moment that the spiritual life, for which this coun- try is noted and for which this country has no rival,

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