Page:A Nation in Making.djvu/393

This page needs to be proofread.

'Few in England can realize the almost hopeless character of the struggle, it: India's official-ridden land, of one under the official ban seeking once more to recover a decent position in public life. For years Mr. Surendra Nath fought on like Grant, determined to fight along this line until death or victory crowned his efforts. He founded a school and taught in it; he started a paper and both edited and managed it; he spoke at every popular meeting and established his reputation for those oratorical powers which, inter alia, so endear him to his countrymen. But for long he made little or no progress, though he bravely still kept his head above the waters and swam on in dogged earnestness.

'Truly is it said that all comes to him who knows how to wait. Suddenly for Surendra Nath appeared the Deux ex machina—to cut the knots of the cords of neglect and disgrace in which he was bound—appeared in the shape of the Calcutta High Court, a bench of which clapped him into prison on a charge of contempt of court, in consequence of certain editorial comments of his on their proceedings. Then the tide turned; backed up by a majority of his fellow-citizens, his school widened into the largest independent college in India; his paper, the Bengalee, became gradually acknowledged as one of the very best and most just and moderate papers in the country. Elected to the Calcutta Corporation, his industry, his inte- grity and uncompromising independence extorted first the admiration and finally won the confidence of even the official Chairman of the Corpora- tion; and now his long years of resolute labour have been fitly crowned by his election by that Corporation as their first representative to the Legislature—a representation to which his magnificent oratory has not a little contributed, though indirectly, to extort from an unwilling and retro- grade Government.

'Surely this story is a noble one, instinct with noble lessons; but best of all is the fact to which all of us privileged to call him friend can testify; that never amidst all his labours, trials, and sufferings has he ever varied in his love for, and loyalty to, Great Britain; never has he spoken bitterly or unreasonably even of those who condemned him. He has ever accepted his troubles as the decree of Fate, an evil fate that it behoved him to fight against—a fate he has fought against and defeated.

'Long may his triumph last! long may he live to enjoy the fruit of his great courage and his manly perseverance! it will not be many years. we hope, before he sits upon the Viceregal Council; and as time runs on a younger generation shall hail him in the British Parliament, where we may hope that his magnificent gift of cratory may avail to awaken the House to some sense of India's wrongs; some fixed and honourable resolution to see justice at last fairly meted out to India's people.