Sri Aurobindo
Karmayogin
Political Writings and Speeches — 1909-1910
Karmayogin: A Weekly Review
Saturday 28th August 1909 — No.10
Facts and Comments
The London Congress
Since we made our remarks on the proposal of a Congress session in London, we have seen two reasons urged for this reactionary step.
It is necessary, it seems, to prevent judgment going against us in England by default and also to win the sympathy of the civilised world.
The former argument we have already answered in our last issue.
Neither the speeches of a famous orator nor the conjoint speeches of many less famous will win for us the support of the British people for claims which go directly against their interests.
Only a prolonged and steady campaign in England all the year round for several years can make any impression of a real and lasting kind and even that impression cannot in the nature of things be sufficient for the purpose.
Those who are on the side of Indian interests must always be in the minority and will always be denounced by the majority as allies of the enemies of English interests.
Even now that is increasingly the attitude of the public towards Mr. Mackarness and his supporters and we do not think Sj. Surendranath's eloquence has changed matters.
Already the most prominent critics of Lord Morley and his policy of repression have received intimation from their constituents of their serious displeasure and are in danger of losing their seats at the next election.
This is in itself a sufficient refutation of the fable that speeches and Congresses in England can change an ignorant British public into informed and enthusiastic supporters of Indian self-government.
It is only political necessity and the practical recognition that change is 
inevitable which can convert the statesmen of England.
As for the opinion of the civilised world, we do not despise it as a moral force.
But its practical effect is so little as to be almost nil.
In a constitutional question between the present Government in India and the people we do not see what can be the place or mode of operation of the world's opinion or sympathy.
An academical approval of our aims can be of no help to us.
Nor is the sympathy of the world likely to be excited beyond such academical approval unless the Government faithfully imitates the Russian precedent in dealing with popular aspirations.
Even then it is not likely to tell on the action of the Government concerned which will certainly resent foreign interference in its dealings with its own subjects.
The impotence of the civilised world was strikingly shown in the crisis of Russian despotism and at the time of the Boer War.
Even were it otherwise, a London session of the Congress would only awaken a passing interest.
In that respect the visit of Swami Vivekananda to America and the subsequent work of those who followed him did more for India than a hundred London Congresses could effect.
That is the true way of awaking sympathy,— by showing ourselves to the nations as a people with a great past and ancient civilisation who still possess something of the genius and character of our forefathers, have still something to give the world and therefore deserve freedom,— by proof of our manliness and fitness, not by mendicancy.