All surviving political writings and speeches from 1890 to 1908 including articles originally published in the nationalist newspaper 'Bande Mataram'.
All surviving political writings and speeches from 1890 to 1908. The two volumes consist primarily of 353 articles originally published in the nationalist newspaper 'Bande Mataram' between August 1906 and May 1908. Also included are political articles written by Sri Aurobindo before the start of 'Bande Mataram', speeches delivered by him between 1907 and 1908, articles from his manuscripts of that period that were not published in his lifetime, and an interview of 1908. Many of these writings were not prepared by Sri Aurobindo for publication; several were left in an unfinished state.
The statement of the Public Prosecutor that the cause of the Tinnevelly riots was that Mr. Chidambaram Pillai was remanded to custody and that Mr. Pillai had himself quelled a disturbance which was likely to take place at Tuticorin station, is only additional and independent evidence to support a self-evident fact. The best way to bring about a riot, if the authorities want one, is to remove the leaders when public feeling is at white heat. It serves to bring the excitement to exploding point and yet remove those who can alone prevent the explosion or give it a legitimate channel of escape. No intelligent leader in India, Moderate or Nationalist, would use his influence to precipitate a collision between the authorities and the people on the physical plane in which the people can only act with a temporary strength while the bureaucracy can exercise a settled and at present irresistible pressure. In the moral struggle where determination, unity and self-sacrifice on the one side can outweigh organized power and the prestige of authority on the other, the people hold the winning cards. Mr. Pillai and his helpers fought the good fight at Tuticorin in this knowledge and restrained all violence while they encouraged the people to assert their manhood and test their
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unity by passive resistance. The statement in some Anglo-Indian papers that the strike was accompanied by rowdyism seems to be the usual baseless fabrication. The people were strong, but perfectly orderly and calm. It was only after the removal of the restraining influence of the leaders that they broke out into violence. The fact is significant for the popular leaders also, as we have already pointed out; it shows the necessity of a democratic organization which will prevent the removal of the one or two strong men from bringing about an outburst or a collapse.
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