The Representative’s account of itself

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Entering a second year

Like a flowing river, the stream of time follows one rule, running without pause towards the ocean of eternity. From what beginningless source this stream arises, and in what boundless waters it comes to rest, has not yet been determined. Anupala, vipala and pala; danda, muhurta and prahara; day, night and week; fortnight, month and season; half-year, year and century; yuga, manvantara and kalpa: these are the surges and waves of that endless flow of time. Everything, from Brahma down to a blade of grass, and innumerable events of every kind—from the faint smile on the lips of a shy, veiled bride to the deep roar of thunder; from a little child’s amusing quarrel to the world-destroying war of gigantic gods and demons; from the insignificant celebration of a poor person to the hundred horse sacrifices of Indra—awaken fear, affection and wonder in living hearts. Falling into this stream and floating upon it, they have sunk, and continue to sink, into its unfathomable depths through the turning of destiny’s wheel and the law of time.

The year 1298 was only a wave, tiny beyond measure, in that eternal flow. Along with countless other things, our little raft, the Representative, fell into that wave. With much effort it has endured the impact and is now about to enter the next. The present year, 1299, is the Representative’s second wave. Whether it can cross this second wave only God, the all-governing creator, can tell. In the turbulent waves of the same stream of time, great vessels such as Bangadarshan, Aryadarshan, Prachar and Nabajiban have sunk despite the careful guidance of skilled navigators such as Bankimchandra, Jogindranath and Akshaychandra. Our small raft, the Representative, floats in those same waters, and we, with our limited strength, are its helmsmen. Without God’s grace, how could we save it from sinking?

The Representative is entering a new year. In the year just past it suffered considerable difficulty. Such difficulties may recur this year. Fearing that subscribers and readers might misunderstand this—

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Religious disagreement and the journal’s position

—and become disaffected towards the Representative, we think it necessary to review its work in the past year and explain the causes of the disruptions. Before discussing its merits and faults, however, it may not be out of place, in this time of upheaval in religious opinion, to say a few words about its purpose.

The Representative’s principal aim is to propagate sound and true views. It is never an opponent or detractor of other religions and communities. Nevertheless, being a Hindu journal, it regards the celebration of Hindu religion and Hindu society as its particular calling. It will never support what Hindu religion or society does not approve. Yet, for the sole purpose of discovering truth, it will never refrain from discussing in debate the different sectarian views on religion and social conduct found throughout Hindu scripture, even when those views contradict one another. This is precisely where misunderstandings arise, so a little fuller explanation seems necessary.

Whether the subject is the nature of Brahman, religious duty or society, anyone searching the vast Hindu scriptures for arguments, evidence and sayings favourable or unfavourable to a position will not be turned away empty-handed. The same scriptures prescribe the worship of the formless Brahman and the worship of God in form. The scriptures that declare non-injury the highest duty also sanction animal sacrifice. Those that prescribe desireless celibacy also allow remarriage for a widow who desires it. The scriptures that advise honouring a Brahman who does not accept gifts from Shudras also advise worshipping a paramahamsa who eats the food of mlecchas. The scriptures that repeatedly prescribe the conception rite at the first menstrual period also repeatedly forbid intercourse with a woman under twelve. These apparently contradictory views are approved by the same Hindu scriptures. Though they appear contradictory at a superficial glance, each is reasonable and to be observed according to place, time and person. To reject one while accepting another would dishonour Hindu scripture.

As already stated, the Representative is a Hindu journal. It will therefore discuss impartially all principles approved in Hindu scripture in order to indicate the truth. But it must also be said that, though these conflicting views all have scriptural sanction, some are superior and some inferior in quality and result. Even if, out of respect for scripture, the Representative does not oppose the inferior view, it undoubtedly favours the superior one.

One more point: although hell is inferior to heaven, both were created by the same creator according to need. In God’s scheme both are necessary. In the same way, although widow remarriage is inferior to celibacy, both have been prescribed by the same Hindu scriptures according to the needs of place, time and person. To show the brightness of day one must depict the darkness of night; in the heat of summer—

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Three purposes, and the problem of writing history

—one cannot fully appreciate the gentle beauty of the moon without seeing the sun’s fierce form. Without a picture of foul-smelling hell, the image of heaven, cooled by the southern breeze, does not become clear. Similarly, without discussing widow remarriage motivated by desire, the glory and purity of desireless celibacy cannot shine out. For this reason the Representative will discuss, in the form of debate and response, principles sanctioned by Hindu scripture even when they contradict one another. Let no one therefore regard it as hostile to society or customary practice, non-Hindu, or atheistic. Its main aim is to disseminate the true and essential instructions of Hindu scripture without sectarian distinction.

Let us now return to the main subject. In assessing the Representative’s merits and faults, we must first consider how far it has fulfilled the purposes for which it came into being.

The Representative has three purposes. Their details have been given many times; a brief statement will suffice here. First: to collect the history of the Ugra Kshatriya community. Second: to promote discussion of its social affairs for the reform of society. Third: to publish articles on varied subjects to spread education among general readers and within the Ugra Kshatriya community.

Let us see how far these three purposes were achieved in the first year. During the past year the Representative could accomplish nothing towards the first. Why this was so was explained in the article “What is our purpose?” in last Kartik’s issue. Quoting that passage should be enough:

“In its first task, that of collecting the community’s history, the Representative has still not succeeded. Why it has not succeeded becomes easy to understand if one calmly considers the importance of the task. Nowadays it is not particularly difficult to entertain readers by constructing a community history through imagination or with the help of hearsay. But we do not wish to mislead readers. Our wish is that the true history of the Ugra Kshatriya community should be collected. Is the fulfilment of that wish so easy? For one thing, it is doubtful whether the history of any community can be complete in every respect. Within Bengal, the Brahman community is held to be the highest, and its records have been written down from time immemorial. Yet the histories of Bengal’s Brahmans are composed around the names of five supposed founding ancestors who came to this country, while other books say that no Brahmans bearing those names came here: the names they give are entirely different. If this is the condition of those who have continually kept written accounts of themselves, consider our community, for which no written record has yet come—”

Original footnote: A friend of ours is collecting an account of this matter; it will be published in the Representative in due course.

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Research, reviews and irregular publication

“—before our eyes, or those of any friends or acquaintances. Consider, then, how difficult it is to collect the history of our Ugra Kshatriya community. Everyone should reflect on the expense and time required to buy valuable and scarce books, search the record offices of old ruling houses, visit the community’s early places of residence, and investigate the facts. The Representative has not yet had the necessary money or time. Let readers be a little patient and await the proper opportunity. If the Representative survives, it will certainly make every possible effort to collect the community’s history.”

We shall say nothing ourselves about the second purpose. Instead, let us quote what our able and learned contemporary, the Indian Mirror, has said about the Representative’s work for the interests of the Ugra Kshatriya community. The Mirror says:

“The treble number of the Ugra-kshetriya-Pratinidhi which mainly represents the interests of the Ugra-kshetriya Community, contains a large number of papers bearing on social religious and literary subjects.”

Its meaning is that the Ugrakshatriya-Pratinidhi chiefly publishes articles concerning the interests of Ugra Kshatriya society. It also discusses various subjects relating to religion, society and literature.

In pursuing its third purpose, the Representative believes that it has done what it could. When our younger contemporary, Prakriti, says, “For its selection of subjects, skill in writing and research, the Ugrakshatriya-Pratinidhi deserves praise. We wish it a long life,” what more have we to say?

What has been said so far is in the Representative’s favour. Let us now see what can be said against it. Its first and principal fault is irregular publication. Second, the articles it has published have not given its readers as much satisfaction as might have been hoped. Third, its price is somewhat higher than that of Janmabhumi and one or two other monthly journals.

In answer to the first charge, all that can be said for the Representative is that it was not established for commercial profit. Consequently, adequate capital was not collected for its management. We thought that a community journal should chiefly depend upon the support of Ugra Kshatriya subscribers. Unfortunately, the generous people on whom we relied did not provide the necessary financial help at the proper time. This caused needless disorder in publication. From the present year the Representative’s fortunes are changing; we hope that it will no longer have to suffer the embarrassment of appearing irregularly.

There is much to say about the second charge. The Representative is a monthly journal. The purposes of a daily or weekly paper—

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Readers, subscriptions and the Samiti

—are not those of a monthly. A monthly discusses serious subjects of many kinds. Its language and thought ought to suit the gravity of its subjects, and generally do. The discussion of established subjects is the monthly journal’s task; it contains no fresh news. Readers who prefer news therefore do not find as much pleasure in reading the Representative. Moreover, readers do not all share the same opinions or tastes. It is exceedingly difficult for a young, impartial journal to satisfy equally readers of such different tastes and views. When an editor must attend both to raising money and to obtaining articles, preserving the quality of a journal becomes very difficult. Because the Representative’s managers faced severe financial hardship, they could not make it excellent in every respect despite their desire and enthusiasm. We hope that this year it will be better able to satisfy its readers.

There is little more to say about the third fault. An annual price of two rupees, including postage, is not excessive for a large monthly journal providing 480 pages filled with articles on many subjects. Although its price is somewhat higher than that of a few journals, it is much lower than that of many others. And since it is a community journal whose hopes and support rest chiefly upon one community, setting its price at two rupees has not been unreasonable. Its size will increase further this year.

In conclusion, we are very pleased to announce that our honoured Ugrakshatriya Samiti has taken responsibility for sustaining the Representative from the present year. Now that its financial difficulty has been relieved, the Representative will spare no effort within its means to improve in every respect and serve the welfare of Ugra Kshatriya society. Readers and subscribers who care for the community: come forward from this new year to give the support that will make the Representative enduring.

Our respectful appeal to the wider educated public is this: if you judge the Representative unreadable, cast it aside; we shall not be hurt. But if you find something worth reading in it, do not withhold your sympathy merely because of the name “Ugrakshatriya-Pratinidhi.” Though it is the mouthpiece of the Ugra Kshatriya community, it is in practice a monthly journal of literature. It therefore deserves sympathy from everyone, regardless of community. Please be kind to the Representative as well.

And you, compassionate and benevolent Creator: you alone are the Representative’s support. Protect it from every danger. Infinite Power, give it renewed strength. Grant that it may cross the second and all following waves with ever fewer obstacles, and so fulfil your will.