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forces of Non-Co-operation appealing to the electors not to vote and to the candidates not to stand. The name of religion was in- voked, and Muslim electors and candidates were solemnly told by the doctors of their religion that it would be wicked and contrary to the injunctions of their sacred books to participate in any shape or form in the approaching elections. No wonder that some of their best men hesitated; and I was approached by a Mohamedan leader, who recently held a high position in the Government, with the request that I should appeal to Lord Ronaldshay to extend the time for the nominations of Mohamedan candidates. I made the request. It was granted; and thus it was possible for some of the Mohamedan leaders, who otherwise would have been left out, to join the Council. At that time, Non-Co-operation stuck to the formula of the triple boycott, including that of the Council, which was shunned as an unclean thing. So far, however, as the Hindus were concerned, the feeling against Council entry was confined to the professed Non-Co-operators and did not affect the bulk of the men of light and leading. The last Council was thus fairly repre- sentative of that element.

The question of entering the Councils on the part of Non-Co- operators was a subsequent development. It was due mainly to the failure of the cult. When it was quite apparent, even to the avowed advocates of Non-Co-operation, that they had achieved nothing on the constructive side, and that their career had been marked by unrest and rowdyism, sometimes accompanied by blood- shed—drawing tears of penitence from their leaders—a departure was initiated, in the name of Non-Co-operation. It was diplomatic in its conception. The pill was gilded. But the old label was retained. It was still Non-Co-operation, but of a type which in the opinion of a powerful wing of the party cut at the root of the cult. Council entry was resolved upon, but for the ends of obstruction and the wrecking of the Councils. It was to be co-operation at the start, non-co-operation in its operative part; and the wrecking of the Reforms as the sequel.

These methods were soon in full swing with varying success in the different provinces. It failed everywhere except in the Central Provinces and Bengal. In the Central Provinces it was completely successful; and in Bengal only partially so. What the ultimate result will be, it is difficult to anticipate. The future is on the knees of the gods. But we well know—it is a matter of common experience—that those who come to curse often remain to bless; and the last