Page:The Modern Review (July-December 1925).pdf/25

12 of the present Calcutta University. A Bengali entered the I.C.S., by open competition from Bihar three years ago; another Bengali has entered it this year from the Punjab and a third (from Bihar) has missed it by two places only, while the Calcutta graduates have been nowhere. Even a small urban university like Dacca has passed two Bengalis for the I.P.S., and one for the Finance examination. What has the Calcutta University done proportionately with its past history, immense resources, and command over the whole student population of the largest province in India? The Bengalis are not inferior to any other race in India in brain-power, and Bengal has enjoyed the immense advantage of British peace, British administration, and European learning for a much longer period than any other province of India. Why, then, have they lost their former intellectual prominence in India and even equality with certain other peoples, during the last few years?

The bad system of teaching and the ridiculous methods and standards of examination that now obtain at Calcutta, have poisoned the very spring-head of Bengal’s intellectual (and moral) life.

It is for the Bengali legislators to decide whether their sons should continue to work under the blight of such a system, or national decay should be arrested by a determined reform of the Calcutta University.

EARL RONALDSHAY ON ARYAYARTA By C. F. ANDREWS THIS volume * forms the last of a series of with the ‘Heart of Aryavarta,’ the choice can hardly -L three books, which have been published in quick be called a happy one. The sub-title, which has the . biccession by Lord Ronaldshay in England, after designation, ‘A Study of the Psychology of Indian his return from the exacting work of the Governor­ Unrest’ is more appropriate ; yet the author never ship of Bengal during a peculiarly difficult time. gets into his subject. He regards the Indian They represent the different materials, which Unrest throughout entirely from the British angle he. had collected during his official career, and of vision and therefore he cannot fathom its deepest display an .industry and enthusiasm that are not implication and its profoundest meaning. when carefully read and analysed, this new common, either in Governors, or in Viceroys, who have only five years of active experience in India volume of- the late Governor of Bengal is found to m which to come to their conclusions. Perhaps be a series of studies, somewhat loosely strung Viscount Curzon, who has recently died and left a together, with the definite aim' of propagating large posthumous work on India behind him, is the certain political ideas. The attempt is, all the only other modem instance of a literary output on while, bemg made to prove the advantage to India such a lavish scale. of remaining an ‘integral part of the British Tne two earlier books which Earl Ronaldshay Empire.’ In themselves, these studies wander far published, were called, ‘India: A Bird’s-Eye afield and cover a very large social and religious View- and the ‘Lands' of the Thunderbolt’. The area. They include descriptions of Santiniketan forma’ of these two volumes is somewhat super­ and of Navadwipa, of the Bhagavadgita and the ficial It depicts, with many details, ‘the stage on Upanishads, of Keshub Chunder Sen and Bankim which the Drama of British Indian history is now Chandra Chatterjee, of modern vernacular schools being enacted’. The latter work deals rather. with and ancient colleges of learning—to mention only a the mental atmosphere of India, in some of its few of the subjects. Many of them are touched broader relations.’ I am quoting Lord Ronaldshay’s with the brush of an artist, and the account of description in either case of his own books. Navadwipa is peculiarly pleasing. But we feel -The third volume which has now been presented behind them all the passion of the pplitical propa­ to the British public, is called the 'Heart of Arya- gandist and this detracts from their highest artistic vartn-. The title is an ambitious one, and as the book function. It is as though the artists were saying deals chiefly with the modem educated classes, all the while, “I want to prove to you by these who have in ao many unfortunate ways lost touch illustrations that India cannot get -along without England, and that only by an acknowledgement of - ihe Heart of Aryavarta by Lord Ronaldshay.' this fact can Indian History be interpreted. See Constable & Co. Price 14sh, Indian agents, Oxford how all these scenes 'and personalities preach only university Press. Post Box 31. Bombay. one lesson, that India has become wedded to
 * °'(A Review)