Life of Ahmad — Page 648
POLICE HARASS AHMAD as as 648 call the evidence of any of my disciples as to what was its effect upon their minds; whether it excited them in any way or suppressed all excitement and cooled their minds. I cannot imagine that an injured man like myself could adopt a milder mode of replying to such heart- rending and abusive words than I did. Moreover, the notice did not contain any prohibition against prophecies; it simply said that I should be mild in controversial writings. Babu Ghulam Haider, Tahsildar, then reader to the Deputy Commissioner, was present at the time when I signed the notice and he may be asked what warning had been given to me by Captain Douglas. That my Ishtih a r is written in polite language and proper words becomes abundantly clear from a comparison of my writing with those of Muhammad Husain’s party which has been reproduced in my Ishtih a r of November 21st, 1898. I may confidently assert that I never used unduly harsh or abusive words. It is true that in controversies one is often obliged, notwithstanding good faith and politeness, to use words regarding one’s opponent which, though harsh in appearance, are, as a matter of fact, true and suited to the occasion. One is not, therefore, guilty of violating the rules of courtesy and politeness in having recourse to such a measure. This method has also been adopted by eminent European