CHAPTER NINE PART 2

was I of the time that when the bell went, I had transcribed only a portion of the text I had prepared in rough. But there was no help—the answerbook had to be surrendered and I could only bite my fingers. I informed my people that I had not done well and could not hope to find a place among the selected candi- dates. I now planned to continue my work for the Tripos. Imagine my surprise, therefore, when I got a telegram one night when I was in London from a friend of mine which ran thus——”CONGRATULATIONS SEE MORNING PosT.” I wondered what it meant. Next morning when I got a copy of the Morning Post, I found that I had come out fourth. I was glad. A cable went off to India at once. I had now another problem to face. What should I do with the job? Was I going to give the go—by to all 1ny dreams and aspirations, and settle down to a comfortable life? There was nothing new in that. So many had done it before-so many had talked big when they were young and had acted differently when grown up. I knew of a young man from Calcutta who had Ramakrishna and Vivekanan- da at the tip of his tongue in his college days, but later on married into a rich family and was now safely landed in the Indian Civil Service. Then there was the case of a friend from Bombay who had promised in the presence of the late Lokamanya Tilak that, if he happened to pass the I.C.S. Examination, he would resign and devote himself to national work5 But I had resolved early in life not to follow the beaten track and, further, I had certain ideals which I wanted to live up to. It was therefore quite impossible for me to go into the Service unless I could make a clean sweep of my past life. There were two important considerations which I had to weigh before I could think of resigning. Firstly, what would my people think? Secondly, if I resigned now in a fit of excitement, would I have any occasion in future to regret my action? Was I absolutely sure that I was doing the right thing? It took me seven long months to make up my mind. In the meantime, I started a correspondence with my sec- ond brother, Sarat. Fortunately the letters I wrote have been preserved by him. The ones I received have all been lost in the storm and stress of a hectic political life. My letters are interesting inasmuch as they show the working of my mind in 1920. The I.C.S. Examination result was declared about the middle of September, 1920. A few days later when I was taking a holiday at Leigh-on—Sea in Essex I wrote to him on the 22nd September as follows :-- “I was so glad to receive the telegram conveying con- gratulations. I don’t know whether I have gained anything really substantial by passing the I.C.S. Examination-——but it is a great pleasure to think that the news has pleased so many and especially that it has delighted father and mother in these dark days. “I am here as a paying guest of Mr B.’s family. Mrs B. represents English character at its very best. He is cultured and liberal in his views and cosmopolitan in his sentiments .... Mr B. counts among his friends Russians, Poles, Lithu- anians, Irishmen, and members of other nationalities. He takes a great interest in Russian, Irish and Indian literature, and admires the writings of Ramesh Dutt and Tagore .... I have been getting heaps of congratulations on my standing fourth in the competitive examination. But I cannot say that I am delighted at the prospect of entering the ranks of the I.C.S. If I have to join this service I shall do so with as much reluctance as I started my study for the C.S. Examination with. A nice flat income with a good pension in after-life-I shall surely get. Perhaps I may become a Commissioner if I stoop to make myself servile enough. Given talents, with a servile spirit one may even aspire to be the Chief Secretary to a provincial Government. But after all is Service to be the be-all and end-all of my life? The Civil Service can bring one all kinds of worldly comfort, but are not these acquisitions made at the expense of one’s soul? I think it is hypocrisy to maintain that the highest ideals of one’s life are compatible with subordination to the conditions of service which an I.C.S. man has got to accept. “You will readily understand my mental condition as I stand on the threshold of what the man-in-the-street would call a promising career. There is much to be said in favour of such a service. It solves once for all what is the paramount problem for each of us-the problem of bread and butter. One has not to go to face life with risk or any uncertainty as to success or failure. But for a man of my temperament who has been feeding on ideas which might be called ec- centric-—the line of least resistance is not the best line to follow. Life loses half its interest if there is no struggle——if there are no risks to be taken. The uncertainties of life are not appalling to one who has not, at heart, worldly ambi- tions. Moreover, it is not possible to serve one’s country in the best and fullest manner if one is chained to the Civil Service. In short, national and spiritual aspirations are not compatible with obedience to Civil Service conditions. “I realise that it is needless to talk in this fashion as my will is not my own. Though I am sure that the C. Ser- vice has no glamour for you, father is sure to be hostile to the idea of my not joining. He would like to see me settled down in life as soon as possible. . . Hence I find that owing to sentimental and economic reasons, my will can hardly be called my own. But I may say without hesitation that if I were given the option-—I would be the last man to join the Indian Civil Service. “You may rightly say that, instead of avoiding the ser- vice, one should enter its ranks and fight its evils. But even if I do so, my position any day may become so intolerable as to compel me to resign. If such a crisis takes place 5 or 10 years hence, I shall not be in a favourable position to chalk out a new line for myself--whereas today there is yet time for me to qualify for another career. “If one is cynical enough one may say that all this ‘spirit’ will evaporate as soon as I am safe in the arms of the service. But I am determined not to submit to that sickening influence. I am not going to marry—-hence considerations of worldly prudence will not deter me from taking a par- ticular line of action if I believe that to be intrinsically right. “Constituted as I am, I have sincere doubts as to whether I should be a fit man for the Civil Service and I rather think that what little capacity I possess can be better utilised in other directions for my own welfare as well as for the welfare of my country. “I should like to know your opinion about this. I have not written to father on this point—I really don’t know why. I wish I could get his opinion too.” The above letter shows that the conflict had begun but was still far from being resolved. On the 26th Janu ary, 1921, I reverted to the subject and wrote :— “ .... You may say that instead of shunning this wicked system we should enter it and fight with it till the last. But such a fight one has got to carry on singlehanded in spite of censure from above, transfer to unhealthy places, and stoppage of promotion. The amount of good that one can do while in the service is infinitesimal when compared with what one can do when outside it. Mr R. C. Dutt no doubt did a lot of work in spite of his service but I am sure he could have done much more work if he had not been a member of the bureaucracy. Besides the question here involved is one of principle. On principle I cannot accept the idea of being a part of the machinery which has outlived the days of its usefulness, and stands at present for all that is connected with conservatism, selfish power, heartlessness, and red-tapism. “I am now at the cross-ways and no compromise is possible. I must either chuck this rotten service and dedi- cate myself whole-heartedly to the country’s cause ——or I must bid adieu to all my ideals and aspirations and enter the service .... I am sure many of our relatives will howl when they hear of such a rash and dangerous proposal .... But I do not care for their opinions, their cheers or their taunts. But I have faith in your idealism and that is why I am appealing to you. About this time 5 years ago I had your moral support in an endeavour which was fraught with disastrous consequcnces to myself. For a year my future was dark and blank, but I bore the consequences bravely, I never complained to myself, and today 1 am proud that I had the strength to make that sacrifice. The memory of that event strengthens my belief that if any demands for sacrifice are made upon me in the future I shall respond with equal fortitude, courage and calmness. And in this new endeavour can I not expect the same moral support which you so will- ingly and so nobly lent me, five years ago? .... “I am writing to father separately this time and ani appealing to him to give his consent. I hope that if you agree with my point of view you will try to persuade father to that effect. I am sure your opinion in this matter will carry great weight.” This letter of the 26th January, 1921, shows that I had moved towards a decision but was still awaiting approval from home. The next letter in which there was reference to the same topic was dated the 16th February, 1921. I wrote therein :—— “ .... You have received my ‘explosive’ letter by this time. Further thought confirms me in my support of the plans I have sketched for myself in that letter. .... If C. R. Das at his age can give up everything and face the uncertain- ties of life—I am sure a young man like myself, who has no worldly cares to trouble him, is much more capable of doing so. If I give up the service, I shall not be in want of work to keep my hands full. Teaching, social service, co-operative credit work, journalism, village organization work, these are so many things to keep thousands of energetic young men busy. Personally, I should like teaching and journalism at present. The National College and the new paper Swaraj will afford plenty of scope for my activity .... A life of sacrifice to start with, plain living and high thinking, whole—hearted devotion to the country’s cause ——all these are highly enchanting to my imagination and inclination. Further, the very principle of serving under an alien bureaucracy is in- tensely repugnant to me. The path of Arabindo Ghosh is to me more noble, more inspiring, more lofty, more unselish, though more thorny than the patch of Ramesh Dutt. “I have written to father and to mother to permit me to take the vow of poverty and service. They may be fright- ened at the thought that that path might lead to suffering in the future. Personally I am not afraid of suffering—in fact, I would rather welcome it than shrink from it.” The letter of the 23rd February, 1921, is also interest- ing. Therein I say:—— “Ever since the result of the I.C.S. was declared, I have been asking myself whether I shall be more useful to my country if I am in the service than if I am not. I am fully convinced now that I shall be able to serve my country bet- ter if I am one of the people than if I am a member of the bureaucracy. I do not deny that one can do some amount of good when he is in the service but it can’t be compared with the amount of good that one can do when his hands are not tied by bureaucratic chains. Besides, as I have already men- tioned in one of my letters, the question involved is mainly one of principle. The principle of serving an alien bureau- cracy is one to which I cannot reconcile myself. Besides the first step towards equipping oneself for public service is to sacrifice all worldly interests——to burn one’s boats as it were-—and devote oneself wholeheartedly to the national cause ..... The illustrious example of Arabindo Ghosh looms large before my vision. I feel that I am ready to make the sacrifice which that example demands of me. My circum- stances are also favourable. ’ ’ It is clear from the above that I was still under the in- fluence of Arabindo Ghosh. As a matter of fact it was widely believed about this time that he would soon return to active political life. The next letter was written on the 6th April from Oxford where I was spending my holidays. By then I had received my father’s letter disapproving of my plans, but I had definitely made up my mind to resign.The following extracts are interesting:——— “Father thinks that the life of a self-respecting Indian Civil Servant will not be intolerable under the new regime and that home rule will come to us within ten years. But to me the question is not whether my life will be tolerable under the new regime. In fact, I believe that, even if I am in the service, I can do some useful work. The main question involved is one of principle. Should we under the present circumstances own allegiance to a foreign bureaucracy and sell ourselves for a mess of pottage? Those who are already in the service or who cannot help accepting service may do so. But should I, being favourably situated in many respects, own allegiance so readily? The day I sign the covenant I shall cease to be a free man. “I believe we shall get Home Rule within ten years and certainly earlier if we are ready to pay the price. The price consists of sacrifice and suffering. Only on the soil of sacrifice and suffering can we raise our national edifice. If we all stick to our jobs and look after our own interests, I don’t think we shall get Home Rule even in 50 years. Each family-—-if not each individual——should now bring forward its offering to the feet of the mother. Father wants to save me from this sacrifice. I am not so cal- lous as not to appreciate the love and affection which impels him to save me from this sacrifice, in my own interests. He is naturally apprehensive that I am perhaps hasty in my judgement or overzealous in my youthful enthusiasm. But I am perfectly convinced that the sacrifice has got to be made by some body at least. “If anybody else had come forward, I might have had cause to withdraw or wait. Unfortunately nobody is coming yet and the precious moments are flying away. In spite of all the agitation going on there, it still remains true that not a single Civil Servant has had the courage to throw away his job and join the people’s movement. This challenge has been thrown at India and has not been answered yet. I may go further and say that in the whole history of British India, not one Indian has voluntarily given up the Civil Service with a patriotic mo- tive. It is time that members of the highest service in India should set an example to members of the other services. If the members of the services withdraw their allegiance or even show a desire to do so-—then only will the bureau- cratic machine collapse. “I therefore do not see how I can save myself from this sacrifice. I know what this sacrifice means. It means poverty, suffering, hard work, and possibly other hardships to which I need not expressly refer, but which you can very well understand. But the sacrifice has got to be made-— consciously and deliberately.... Your proposal that I should resign after returning is eminently reasonable but there are one or two points to be urged against it. In the first place it will be a galling thing for me to sign the covenant which is an emblem of servitude. In the second place if I accept service for the present I shall not be able to return home before December or January, as the usual custom stands. If I resign now, I may return by July. In six months’ time much water will have flowed through the Ganges. In the absence of adequate response at the right moment, the whole move- ment might tend to flag, and if response comes too late it may not have any effect. I believe it will take years to initi- ate another such movement and hence I think that the tide in the present movement must be availed of. If I have to resign, it does not make any difference to me or to any one of us whether I resign tomorrow or after a year, but delay in resigning may on the other hand have some untoward effect on the movement. I know full well that I can dobut little to help the movement——but it will be a great thing if I have the satisfaction of having done my bit. .... If for any reason I happen to change my decision regarding resignation, I shall send a cable to father as that will relieve his anxiety.” In the letter written from Cambridge on the 20th April, I said that I would send in my resignation on the 22nd April.In my letter dated the 28th April from Cam- bridge I wrote as follows:-— “I had a talk with the Censor of Fitzwilliam Hall, Mr Reddaway, about my resignation. Contrary to my expec- tations, he heartily approved of my ideas. He said he was surprised, almost shocked, to hear that I had changed my mind, since no Indian within his knowledge had ever done that before. I told him that I would make journalism my profession later on, and he said that he preferred a journal- istic career to a monotonous one like the Civil Service. “I was at Oxford for three weeks before I came up here and there the final stage of my deliberation took place. The only point which had been taxing me for the last few months was whether I should be justified morally in fol- lowing a course which would cause intense sorrow and displeasure in many minds and especially in the minds of father and mother..... My position therefore is that, in enter- ing a new career, I am acting against the express wishes of father and mother and against your advice though you have sent me your “warmest felicitations in whatever course I choose.’ My greatest objection to joining the service was based on the fact that I would have to sign the covenant and thereby own the allegiance of a foreign bureaucracy which I feel rightly or wrongly has no moral right to be there. Once I signed the covenant, it would not matter from the point of view of principle whether I served for three days or three years. I have come to believe that compro- mise is a bad thing——it degrades the man and injures his cause.... The reason why Surendra Nath Bannerji is going to end his life with aknighthood and a ministership is that he is a worshipper of the philosophy of expediency which Edmund Burke preached. We have not come to that stage where we can accept a philosophy of expediency. We have got to make a nation and a nation can be made only by the uncompromising idealism of Hampden and Cromwell. .... I have come to believe that it is time for us to wash our hands clean of any connection with the British Government Every Government servant whether he be a petty chaprasi or a provincial Governor only helps to contribute to the stability of the British Government in India. The best way to end a Government is to withdraw from it, I say this not because that that was Tolstoy’s doctrine nor because Gandhi preaches it———but because I have come to believe in it.... I sent in my resignation a few days ago. I have not yet been informed that it has been accepted. “C. R. Das has written, in reply to a letter of mine, about the work that is already being done. He complains that there is a dearth of sincere workers at present. There will consequently be plenty of congenial work for me when I return home.... I have nothing more to say. The die is cast and I earnestly hope that nothing but good will come out of it.” On the 18th May, I wrote from Cambridge as follows :— _ “Sir William Duke is trying to persuade me to with- draw my resignation. He wrote to Bardada about it. The Secretary of the Civil Service Board at Cam- bridge, Mr Roberts, also asked me to reconsider my deci- sion and he said he was acting under instruction from the India Office. I have sent word to Sir William saying that I have acted after mature deliberation.” This letter requires an annotation. Soon after I sent in my resignation, there was a flutter in the India Office dove- cots. The late Sir William Duke, then Permanent Under- Secretary of State for India, who knewmy father when he was Commissioner of Ori:,sa, got into touch with my eldest brother, Sjt Satish Chandra Bose, who was then qualify- ing himself for the Bar in London. Sir William advised me through my brother not to resign the service. I was also ap- proached by lecturers in Cambridge and asked to reconsider my decision. Then there was a request from the Secretary of the Civil Service Board in Cambridge, the late Mr Roberts. All these moves taken from different directions intrigued me, but most interesting of all was the last move. Some months earlier I had a passage-at—arms with Mr Roberts over some printed instructions issued to Civil Service Probationers by the India Office. These instruc- tions were under the caption “Care of Horses in India” and contained remarks to the effect that the India syce (groom) eats the same food as his horse--- that Indian Bunnias (traders) are proverbially dishonest, etc. I naturally felt indignant when I received them and had a talk with other fellow-probationers who had also got them. We all agreed that the instructions were incorrect and offensive and that we should make a joint protest. When the time came for us to write, everybody tried to back out. Ultimately I grew desperate and decided to act on my own..

  

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