32 1. Speech to the Indian National Congress, 1907 by Bal Gangadhar Tilak

32 1. One thing is granted, namely, that this government does not suit us. As has been said by an eminent statesman-the government of one country by another can never be a successful, and therefore, a permanent government...One fact is this alien government has ruined the country. In the beginning, all of us were taken by surprise. We were almost dazed. We thought that everything that the rulers did was for our good....We are not armed, and there is no necessity for arms either. We have a stronger weapon, a political weapon, in boycott. We have perceived one fact, that the whole of this administration, which is carried on by a handful of Englishmen, is carried on with our assistance....

Every Englishman knows that they are a mere handful in this country and it is the business of every one of them to befool you in believing that you are wek and they are strong.

VARIOUS REMARKS, c. 1918 by Sir Alexander Loftus Tottenham

Now the idea....that every race is fit for "self-government," (its silly) --really very few are...

To talk as if the people of India were downtrodden slaves is ridiculous and meaningless. And what does out "yoke" amount to? Little more than keeping the peace internally and protecting them externally....

For us who profess to be fighting for democracy (which itself is rot) to contemplate handing over the people of India in the name of democracy to be governed by an oligarchy (government by a small group) of people...who are more oppressive and more selfish than anything you can conceive....is really funny if it weren't tragic.

Questions:

1, According to Tilak, what makes the British rule over India possible?

2. According to Tottenham, what is the British role in India? How does it compare with Tilak's view?

3. How do you think Bal Gangadhar Tilak might have responded to Tottenham's remarks? Please explain your answer.....