The Light of Truth — Page 237
REFUTING OBJECTIONS 237 written by the editor of that newspaper. We simply express our agreement with him by way of these selected quotations. As for the objection that the above-mentioned editor [of Āftāb-e-Punjab] makes against the writings of Reverend 'Imad-ud-Din-with re- spect to national welfare-we say this much: His writings, the ci- tation for which has been provided above, without a doubt may disturb the social peace. Furthermore, as they have been prepared according to some strange plan, it would not at all be unfair to call them, on the whole, mischief-mongering and indeed inflammatory. Per the above-mentioned commentator, the government must maintain an appropriate plan of action for such national distur- bances as arise from books like these. We know that this wise gov- ernment has intervened in such matters [before]. For example, in this very country, ex-Governor General Lord [Richard] Wellesley outlawed the Hindu custom of Jal Parwā in 1798 CE. Then, in 1827 CE, Governor General Lord William Bentinck stopped the Hindu practice of Sati by amending the law. The government should deter- mine why, among Christian writers, everyone singles out Reverend 'Imad-ud-Din for criticism. The reason for this is that he too wishes for his writings to incite the general populace to become religiously impassioned and overcome by rage and create disturbances and be counted among those who create disorder. We have heard that the Punjab Tract Society's publication committee rejected Part II of the above-mentioned inflammatory book for the reason that it contains material that is even more heart-wrenching than what is found in Part I. If this is true, then it has done well and good. -End of Hindu Prakash excerpt In Shamsul-Akhbar of Lucknow, a paper belonging to the priests-pub- lished by the American Mission Press, dated 15 October 1875, no. 15, vol. 7, and edited by Reverend Craven, page 9-it is written: The book Niyaz Nāmah, authored by Şafdar Ali Sahib Bahadur Masīķī, Extra Assistant Commissioner, Sagar District, central India, does not re- semble 'Imad-ud-Din's abhorrent writings, which are filled with abusive language. If another mutiny occurs along the lines of 1857, it will be be- cause of the foul language and impudence of this very person. When one cannot secure a mere fifteen rupees elsewhere, but at the mission receives seventy rupees and free residence, on whose premises he or she is even free to build an oil press, then what can be said to such greedy people. -End-quote, copy of the original