Reply #13: continuing with colonial India [View All]

[iverglas]

Gandhi referred in his autobiography (quoted above) to the Arms Act, the legislation that actually "depriv<ed> a whole nation of arms".

You'll note that "Act" is capitalized in that snippet. Oh, and you got it right: it's "the Act depriving", not "the act OF depriving a whole nation of arms" ... as, hmm, 2,390 internet sites ... and DoNotRefill ... would have us believe.

http://projectsouthasia.sdstate.edu/Docs/history/primarydocs/Political_History/ABKeithDoc039.htm

Memorandum as to Post-war Reforms, signed by 19 Elected Members of the Indian Legislative Council, October 1916

THERE is no doubt that the termination of the War will see a great advance in the ideals of government all over the civilized world, and especially in the British Empire, which entered into the struggle in defence of the liberties of weak and small nationalities and is pouring forth its richest blood and treasure in upholding the cause of justice and humanity in the international relations of the world. India has borne her part in this struggle and cannot remain unaffected by the new spirit of change for a better state of things. Expectations have been raised in this country and hopes held out that after the War the problems of Indian administration will be looked at from a new angle of vision. The people of India have good reasons to be grateful to England for the great progress in her material resources and the widening of her intellectual and political outlook under British rule, and for the steady, if slow, advance up to date.

... Apart from this question of the constitution of the Legislative and Executive Councils, the people labour under certain grave disabilities which not only prevent the utilization but also lead to the wastage of what is best in them and are positively derogatory to their sense of national self-respect. The Arms Act, which excludes from its operation Europeans and Anglo-Indians and applies only to the pure natives of the country, the disqualification of Indians for forming or joining Volunteer Corps and their exclusion from the commissioned ranks of the army, are disabilities which are looked upon with an irritating sense of racial differentiation. It would be bad enough if these were mere disabilities. Restrictions and prohibitions regarding the possession and use of arms have tended to emasculate the civil population in India and expose them to serious danger. The position of Indians in India is practically this, that they have no real part or share in the direction of the government of the country and are placed under very great and galling disabilities, from which the other members of the British Empire are exempt and which have reduced them to a state of utter helplessness.

... We feel that we should avail ourselves of this opportunity to offer to the Government our humble suggestions as to the lines on which these reforms should proceed. They must, in our opinion, go to the root of the matter. They must give to the people real and effective participation in the government of the country and also remove those irritating disabilities as regards the possession of arms and a military career which indicate want of confidence in the people and place them in a position of inferiority and helplessness. Under the first head we would take the liberty to suggest the following measures for consideration and adoption:

... 11. The right to carry arms should be granted to Indians on the same conditions as to Europeans.

...

From: A. Berriedale Keith, ed. Speeches and Documents on Indian Policy, 1750-1921. Vol. III. London: Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, 1922, 116-124.