Transcriber’s Note:
Obvious typographic errors have been corrected.
MY MOTHER INDIA
by
Dalip Singh Saund, M.A., Ph.D.
Published by
The Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan Society, Inc.
(Sikh Temple)
Stockton, California.
Copyright, 1930
By
Dalip Singh Saund
From the Press of
Wetzel Publishing Co., Inc.
Los Angeles
Dedicated to
my beloved friend Dr. Bhagat Singh Thind
PREFACE
This work was undertaken at the request of THE PACIFIC COAST KHALSADIWAN SOCIETY, commonly known as the SIKH TEMPLE at Stockton,California. The original plan was to write a comprehensive reply toKatherine Mayo’s book MOTHER INDIA, which was changed later to one ofproducing a handbook on India for general use by the American public.In view of the momentous changes of worldwide interest, which havetaken place in India during recent years, the need for such a book wasquite imminent. And it was only fitting that THE PACIFIC COAST KHALSADIWAN SOCIETY, in its role as the interpreter of Hindu culture andcivilization to America, should undertake its publication.
Only a few years ago, India, like other countries of the Orient, was afar Eastern problem. To-day, if rightly judged, it has already become anear Western issue. Except for the few scholars of oriental history andliterature, who occupied themselves diligently in exploring the hiddentreasures of Hindu civilization, the name of India was an unknown thingto the rest of the American world. For the average man and woman inthe United States the affairs of that oriental country were too remotean issue for them to notice. With the advances made by science duringrecent times, however, different parts of the world have become sonear together, and their business and cultural relations have grown sodesperately interlaced, that[Pg 6] the affairs of one section of the globecannot, and should not, remain a matter of comfortable unconcern forthe other. It has been my aim in the preparation of this book to answerthe various questions that commonly arise in the minds of the Americanpeople regarding the cultural and political problems of India. And if Ihave succeeded in bringing about a better understanding of India by thepeople of America, I consider myself amply repaid.
Wherever feasible I have made free uses of striking passages andphrases from the writings of several authors. Since these were copiedfrom my notes gathered during a course of study extending over severalyears, it has not always been possible for me to trace the source, forwhich I wish to be humbly excused.
I wish to express my sincerest appreciation to my beloved wife forher untiring assistance in the preparation of the manuscript and thereading of the proofs. I wish also