materials for an intelligent opinion. And I am sure his readers will feel, as I do, that Mr. Gilchrist's book, on an extremely difficult subject, is honest; that it brings together, in instructive collocation, a large body of relevant facts; that it does not slur over difficulties, or doctor the facts in order to invite a predetermined conclusion; and that it earnestly endeavours to present with fairness not only conflicting opinions, but conflicting tendencies in the life of the Indian peoples. A book of which so much can be said is a useful contribution to sound thinking based upon knowledge; and there never was a time when English readers, or Indian readers, stood more in need of the help which such books can give.

RAMSAY MUIR.

PREFACE

THE series of studies entitled 'Indian Nationality' aims at setting forth the fundamental facts of Indian social, religious and political life, and their possible bearing on Indian responsible government. The subject is so wide, and its ramifications so many, that I make no claim to exhaustive treatment. The conclusions, like most conclusions on similar premisses, are tentative. Finality of judgment on such questions is possible only after the events have happened. My object is to give bases for judgment, not to lay down final laws. Such conclusions as I do give, I do not expect to find universal acceptance. The subject is difficult not only in itself, but also because it is liable to interpretation from preconceived ideas and racial, religious and political bias. But from whatever point of view the subject may be approached, one thing is certain —the need for exact thinking on exact facts. The Indian political atmosphere, for both Indians and Europeans, has for long been poisoned by inexact thinking, due either to ignorance of Indian conditions, or the wish to slur over unpalatable facts. On the one hand, there are the extreme Indian nationalists whose western theories of democracy too often conveniently forget the real character of the Indian population. On the other, there are the old bureaucratic Die-hards, whose loyalty to the service system or desire for efficiency forgets the necessary result of their own work. It would indeed be a poor commentary on our education if India did not show some signs of selfexpression. Indian nationalism is really the result of the very efficiency which is the pride of the Indian services.

The peculiar character of these studies may be explained by their origin. The main part of Chapter I was delivered as two Extension Lectures in Calcutta University in 1915-1916, and published in the Calcutta University Extension Lectures. They have been completely revised to harmonise with the times. The later chapters really arose from a suggestion thrown out when the first lectures were delivered—namely, that someone should work out the bearings of nationality on India. Later the subject was taken up by myself, with the intention of giving a series of lectures, an intention which was not carried out owing to my departure on furlough. The fact that the studies were all originally intended to be separate lectures delivered at considerable intervals will largely explain the construction, particularly the frequent repetition of salient points.

The substance of most of these studies has been published in the Calcutta Review, to the proprietors of which I am much obliged for permission to republish. For help in reading the proof-sheets, and for valuable suggestions all the way through, I owe a deep debt of gratitude to my wife, and to my friend, Mr. R. S. Knox, late Professor of English Literature in the University of Calcutta.

November 1919.

R N. GILCHRIST.