A LETTER TO GANDHI
SIR,—In his " Letter to Gandhi," Dr. Shahani speaks of Indians as a pacific people. This is a common error, due to over- emphasis on Jain and Buddhist teaching, and the solitary example of the Emperor Asoka. In reality, the history of Hindu India is a long succession of dynastic wars ; the cam- paigns of the Chalukyas and Pallavas, the Cholas, the Rajputs and the Marathas are only isolated instances. The Bhagavad Gita lays down that the warrior's duty is fighting ; it merely ordains that he should fight without personal rancour towards his adversary. It would be a great pity if the world received the impression that India was incapable of playing her part in a world war. With all due respect to Mr. Gandhi, Indians are not pacifists, and the Hindu religion does not inculcate pacifism. Indian troops fought magnificently in the last War, and they will do so again if called upon. The balance of power in Asia depends upon a well-armed, though not aggressive, India, capable and ready to defend her frontiers ; and these frontiers lie as far distant as the Pamirs and the Burmese borderland, Basra and Aden and Singapore. India must be mistress of the Indian Ocean or perish. This being the case, it is simply suicidal for Indian politicians to cavil at a very moderate military Budget, or to indulge in fomenting internal dissensions with the enemy at her gates.—Yours faithfully, H. G. RAWLINSON. 32 Queen's Gate Terrace, S.W. 7.
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