A Journal of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya

history of Greece by rising above internal
barriers, wiping out mutual differences,
and developing a feeling of solidarity and
oneness, it would usher in a new era of
progress and development, thereby leading
to a glorious phase.”Presenting Rome as
an ideal, he urges his countrymen to learn
the lesson of shedding selfishness.
From the English Revolution, he tells
us to learn determination and dedication.
From the French Revolution, is to be learnt
to have faith in the power of thought.
Thus, in this manner, he inspires and coaxes
his countrymen to carry forward the
Swadeshi Movement drawing inspiration
and learning lessons from the history of
other nations.The imperialistic power of
Europe tried to extend it’s tentacles all
over the world, under the pretence of
civilizing them, thereby leading to
colonialism, and the seeping in of western
culture into the national fabric of the
colonized countries. A study of imperialism
in the last few decades reveals the fact
that innovative measures were adopted
to bring about revolutionary changes in
the field of education in order to strengthen
imperialism so as to exert supremacy over
the colonized countries. Western thought
with its emphasis on reason not only
dismissed the Indian notion about nature,
culture and society, but also imposed its
ideologies on the Indian psyche.The Sepoy
Mutiny led the British to believe that Indians
were barbarians who deserved to be
subdued, not reformed. When national
consciousness permeated the colonized
countries and the desire for freedom
awakened and intensified, the desire to
get rid of colonial rule also grew stronger
and ripened into firm resolution. Hence,
in the struggle for freedom, we also witness
a growing conflict between Indian and
western culture. This conflict is also clearly
evident in the Indian Renaissance. A
growing tendency to adopt a western way
of life was witnessed in the intellectual
class of India. This caused anxiety to the
founders of the Indian Renaissance, and
was severely criticized by them. Sapreji
too, was worried about its grave
implications. Thus, he writes : “Having
acquired the key to western education
and culture, how far have we been
successful in adopting its inner spirit and
basic principles. We have been content
to adopt only its superficial aspects.”
Sapreji was well aware of the limitations
and drawbacks of Indian culture. He wanted
to free India from these smothering
limitations, by wiping out these drawbacks.
This led him to say : “It should be our
duty to redeem India from its unreasonable
and inequitable binding social conventions,
casting aside religious, caste and class
differences, widening the bonds of man’s
social perceptions in order to enable him
to recognize his inherent abilities, his
dignity as a human being, and his rights
and social obligations. We shall be able
to achieve this end only if these
unreasonable differences are put aside,
20 :: January-March 2012