4 ESSAYS IN NATIONAL IDEALISM.

"Why is there not rejoicing at a nation's birth, or adoles-
cence ? For to all men the gift is given, and to all is
brought the fame. " How many things shalt thou quicken,,
how many shalt thou slay ! How many things shalt thou
waken, how many gather to sleep! How many things-
shalt thou scatter, how many gather and keep I 0 me, how
thy love shall cherish, how thine hate shall wither and
burn ! How the hope shall be sped from thy right hand,,
nor the fear to thy left return ! 0 thy deeds that men shall
sing of !___0 Yictory yet to be !"

Let us not forget that in setting this ideal of Nation-
alism before us, we are not merely striving for a right, but
accepting a duty that is binding on us, that of self-realisa-
tion to the utmost for the sake of others. India's ancient
contribution to the civilisation of the world does not and
never can justify her childern in believing that her work
is done. There is work yet for her to do, which, if not
done by her, will remain for ever undone. We may not
shirk our part in the re-organisation of life, which is needed
to make life tolerable under changed conditions. It is for
us to show that industrial production can be organised on
socialistic lines without converting the whole world into-
groups of state-owned factories. It is for us to show that
great and lovely cities can be built again, and things of
beauty made in them, without the pollution of the air by
smoke or the poisoning of the river by chemicals ; for us
to show that man can be the master, not the slave of the
mechanism he himself has created.

It is for us to proclaim tha,t wisdom is greater than
knowledge ; for us to make clear anew that art is something
more than manual dexterity, or the mere imitation of
natural forms. It is for us to investigate the physical and
faculties anew in the light of the discoveries.