The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 51
[ 51 j From the above it is clear that even the appeals of minorities fail to be effective because espousing the cause of minorities means war with majorities, and no body likes to get into trouble for the sake of others. The Muslims should, therefore, consider this door as also closed upon them. Do not the Muslims pe1ceive that, from the days the Reforms have been introduced. an increasing number of Britishers is daily becoming the partisans of the Hindus? Of the British-owned papers, with a few excep� tions, all are in favour of the Hindus. The speeches of British statesmen one and all su. pport the Hindu view� point. And if you mark the British officials, you will find them patting the Hindus on the back. What is the reason behind all these? Do the Muslims think that this is because the Hindus are in the right, and they in the wrong? If such is their conviction then all they should do is to give up this position and adopt the right attitude. But if it is not so, then they should attribute this sudden change to the introduction of the Reforms As the foundation of the representative form of Governrnent has been laid in India, the Britishers are day by day leaning towards the Hindus. But this is only the beginning. When India will attain to full responsible Government, and the Hindus will dominate in the Assembly, then it will be the most cherished object of the Britishers to win the Hindus· goodwill and favour. When we see that in Ireland the English ignored the opposition of men of their owt'. race and religion, and acceded to the wishes of people of South Ireland, how can we then expect them to support the Indian Muslims against their own best national interests ? Let the Muslims then wake up and safeguard their own interests, for what they surrender to-day, they are sure by no means to get back to-,norrow. Only two alternatives will be open to them either to give up their religion and merge in the Hindus, er to allow themselves to be gradu. .