The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 169
C H A P T E R XIII. Duty Before Us. I have so far expressed my opinion on those salient features of the Nehru-Report that are related to the Muslim demands. I now propose to chalk out a line of conduct that it is desirable that we should follow. There might be many among us who, because of its many defects, would wish the Nehru-Report to be de stroyed altogether. I am opposed to such a view. From what I have written on the subject, the readers can easily see that I yield to none in my disapproval of the Report, so far as it concerns the protection of the Muslim inter ests. It cannot, however, be denied that it is the first attempt of its kind on the part of the Indians to present in detail the Indian view-point. As such, the Report deserves to have its defects removed if possible, and to be adopted as the united demand of the country. For, a people, accustomed to begin a task anew every day, never succeeds. The process of opening afresh the na tional problems is attended with the labour of examining every question anew, and wasting energy and time in fields, where already much has been spent. The new enthusiasm and zeal spends itself by the tirne one arrives at that very stage where things stood before. The result is that the country after having sacrificed its brain, time and money and even unity, returns, like the famous cattle at the mill, to where it was before the start. A people, undertaking to invent anew the railway and the telegraph with a view not to be under obligations to any other people, can never hope to march abreast with other na tions of the world. Accordingly, in my opinion, it should be our endeavour not to destroy the Report but to im. . .