missed. I am putting forward these facts at this mo
ment to say how genuine is our hunger for Swaraj
No British bureaucrat who had the destiny of thi
country in his hands and betrayed it need bewail lifa
the Governor-designate of Madras that his services—
or misservices—have not evoked gratitude.
The universal desire which has taken possessior
of the Indian mind to get rid of British Rule in Indu
is neither a sentimental urge nor a mere political am-
bition; even if it were such, it would not be wrong
Indians are convinced that British Rule has been any-
thing but pleasant. It would not be out of place tc
recapitulate the factual basis of this ardent desire
this hunger for Independence. These facts thougi
marshalled against British rule are of immense value
to any National Government to find what progress has
to be achieved in order to make good the all round
deficit which we are facing today as compared to other
advanced nations of the world.
INDUSTRIES DESTROYED
*
Industrially, India, as a land of cottage-industries,
was highly advanced in the pre-British period. Delhi
produced cotton cloth. Lahore produced fine white
cloth, coloured silk, embrodiery, carpets, woollen
goods, tents, saddles, swords, boots; Agra, cotton and
silk fabrics, lace gold and silver embroideries; Patna,
silk and cotton goods, shields, swords, artistic pottery,
salt petre; Benares, muslins, silk stuffs, embroideries,
belts, turbans; Srinagar, shawls, carpets, beds, trays,
boxes and woodenware; Dacca, finest and richest mus-
lins and silks; Ahmedabad produced gold and silver
cloth, silks, gold and silver work and jewellery; ac-
cording to De Lacet it was 'almost as large as London/