THE DAILY PROVINCE
MAY 23, 1908

ANARCHY IN INDIA IS FOUND TO BE
VERY WIDESPREAD
--------------------Young Malcontents in Foreign Countries Aid in
Fomenting Trouble
-----------------PUBLISH SEDITIOUS NEWS
----------------Plots Against British Rule Being Hatched in England
London, May 23 – The discovery of bomb factories in Calcutta is probably
causing a great deal more anxiety to the Government of India than the rising
on the frontier. Refractory tribesmen can be hammered into obedience, but if
the malcontents in Bengal propose to adopt a policy of isolated assassinations
it will be extremely difficult to deal with them.
The revelations concerning the widespread conspiracy have come as no
surprise to those who have closely followed native political movements. Its
operations are not even continued to India.
The existence of a centre in Paris where young Hindus hatch plots against
British rule in India has long been known to the authorities. There is more
than one such centre in London also, and an Indian newspaper is printed
every week in this country which for virulent attacks upon Great Britain is
hardly equalled by any journal in Bengal.
This newspaper, the Indian Sociologist, is sent out to India in considerable
quantities, and is widely quoted by the native journals. It is printed in English,
but receives much attention from vernacular journals.

THE DAILY PROVINCE
MAY 23, 1908
It would be a mistake to suppose that incitements to violence and subtle
conspiracies to undermine British rule are limited to Bengal. The Bengals are
the nosiest of agitators, but are not regarded as the most dangerous. The fact
that they have been daring enough to manufacture bombs is, indeed, rather a
surprise. It is to the Punjab and to Bombay that one is more accustomed to
look for enemies of the administration who are prepared to translate their
words into deeds.
Bombay Danger Spot
The Bombay Presidency is the real danger-spot in India, despite its surface
quietude. It is the home of the Mahrattas, the last race which actually held
great power. The Maharatta Brahmins are notorious, even among Brahmins,
for their capacity for guile and hatred. The city of Poona, where they chiefly
reside, is known to be the source of much of the mischievous propaganda now
circulating in India. The Bengal agitators received their first impetus towards
violent measures from Poona. The Poona Brahmins do not figure prominently
in the agitation with the solitary exception of the redoubtable Mr. Bal
Gangadhar Tilak, who broke up the Congress at Surat; but they pull many of
the strings. The blood of warriors flow in their veins.
Nothing reveals more vividly the widespread character of the unrest than the
recent disturbances at Tuticorin(?), the southernmost point of India. That the
Madras Presidency would give trouble was never even suspected, it was
considered a sort of backwater, whose placid surface was never ruffled. Now
the Madrasi is ready to riot with the best on very small provocation.
The truth is that unrest has become so general in India that it has more or less
permeated all districts an all classes except Rajputana and the Rajputs.
Conspirators in Japan
The fact that the conspirators in Calcuta were able to collect such large
quantities of high explosives has occasioned much comment. It is not really
difficult, however, to smuggle either arms or explosives into the country. Such

THE DAILY PROVINCE
MAY 23, 1908
a vast extent of coastline cannot be easily protected, and the probability is that
modern arms are far more numerous in India than is popularly supposed.
Many young Indians are known to have gone abroad in the last year or two to
study the manufacture of arms. Most of them went to Japan. Little more than a
year ago an extraordinary organization for sending young Indians to Japan to
learn the use of arms and the way to make them was discovered and
dispersed. The young men, sometimes of good family, were induced to commit
dacoities, and the organization turned the proceeds to their thefts into cash.
When a young had stolen enough for his maintenance he was sent to Japan.
The secret service of the Indian Government is extremely efficient, as Mr.
Kipling shoed in “Kim.” And it was through the exertions of its agents that this
nefarious organization was broken up.
Citation
Anarchy in India is found to be very widespread. (1908, March 23). Province
(Vancouver, B.C.).
LCSH
India – History – British occupation, 1765-1947
Abstract
This article discusses rising unrest in India against the British occupation,
specifically the discovery of a bomb factory in Calcutta. As well as the
international scope of the unrest as groups of South Asian immigrants
residing in London and Paris have also formed organizations against British
occupation.