Many well-meaning citizens of this country lamented
the loss of two days work, and the consequent productivity loss to the nation,
due to the two day general strike called for by the trade unions.
Similar concerns were expressed by another influential
Protestant Missionary, Rev. Claudius Buchanan,(1766-1815), and friend of Rev.
William Carey, in 1805 while serving as Vice Provost at Fort William in
Kolkatta. Rev.Buchanan ‘s observations
& intentions towards Hindioos are
very clear in his essay titled, “Memoir
of the Expediency of an Ecclesiastical Establishment for British India;
both as a Means of Perpetuating the Christian
Religion among our own Countrymen; and as a Foundation for the Ultimate
Civilization of Natives.” In the essay , Buchanan sets forth a rationale for an
Anglican Establishment in India as follows :- Let us first establish our own
religion among ourselves, and our Asiatic subjects will soon benefit by it.
When once our national church shall have been confirmed in India,the members of
that church will be the best qualified to advise the state as to the means by
which, from time to time, the civilization of the natives may be promoted.” (www.wmcarey.edu/carey/buchanan2/est.htm) In the Contents of the essay listed, Part II
deals with Civilization of the natives, in which Chapter V is titled “The
numerous holidays of the natives an impediment
to their civilization.”
Excerpts from Chapter V.
“1.Another obstacle to the
improvement of the natives is the great number of their holidays. These
holydays embody their superstition.......
2. In the
Hindoo calendar there are upwards of an hundred holydays; and of these government
recognises officially a certain
number........During those Hindoo
holydays which are officially
recognised, the public offices are shut up, on account of the festival
(as it is termed) of Doora Puja, of
(www.wmcarey.edu/carey/buchanan2/38.jpg) Churruck Puja, of Rutt Jattra, or of some other. But great detriment to the public service
arising from the frequent recurrence of these Saturnalia, govt. Resolved
some years ago to reduce the number, which was done accordingly......
3. (Footnote +
on page 39) No people require fewer days of rest than the Hindoos;
for they know nothing of the corporal
exertion and fatigue from labour, which
in other countries render regular
repose so grateful to the body and
spirits. ---In what other country would
it be considered a means of promoting the happiness of the common people, to grant them so great
a portion of the year to spend in idleness and dissipation ? The indulgence
operates here as it would in any other country; it encourages extavagence,
licentious habits, and neglect of business among themselves; and
it very seriously impedes the business of the state, and deranges commercial
negotiation.” (www.wmcarey.edu/carey/buchanan2/39.jpg)
Till 1700, or
till the 1700’s, India had contributed 24.44% of the World GDP. In the same
period, Protestant Britain’s share is only 2.88%. (See the table above).
The majority ‘idle’ and ‘licentious’ Hindoos, and the minority ‘Musalmans’
between themselves were able to produce 24.44%
of World GDP. And the gentlemen from England had landed here to buy ,
the goods and other supplies produced by this’uncivilized natives’.
Surely The Hindu Approach
Towards Work (KARMA) WAS Optimal, and
that is the prescription for the modern world to save itself from disaster!!!!
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