That self-glorifying expression, “the brightest jewel in the British crown,” has grown obsolete, and India has become not the glory of Britain, but the first of her imperial responsibilities.  The thought of Britain as well as the thought of new India has changed.  To the extent of recognising a great imperial responsibility, the mission efforts of the Churches and the speeches of statesmen and the output of the press have converted Britain.  India, what her people actually are in thought and feeling, what the country is in respect of the necessities of life and industrial possibilities—­these are questions that never fail to interest an intelligent British audience.  In this volume, the aim has been to set forth the existing thoughts and feelings, especially of new-educated India, and to do so on the historical principle, that to know how a thing has come to be, is the right way to know what it is and how to treat it.  The history of an opinion is its true exposition.  These chapters are not speculations, but a setting forth of the progress of opinion in India during the British period, and particularly during the nineteenth century.  The successive chapters make clear how wonderful has been the progress of India during the century in social, political, and religious ideas.  The darkness of the night has been forgotten, and will hardly be believed by the new Indians of to-day; and ordinary Britons can hardly be expected to know Indian history beyond outstanding political events.  Not, however, to boast of progress, but to encourage educated Indians to further progress, and to enlighten Britons regarding the India which they are creating, is the hope of this volume.  Further progress has yet to be made, and difficult problems yet await solution, and to know the history of the perplexing situation will surely be most helpful as a guide.  What future is in store for India lies hidden.  It would be interesting to speculate, and with a few ifs interposed, it might be easy to dogmatise.  What will she become? is indeed a question of fascinating interest, when we ask it of a child of the household, or when we ask it of a great people rejuvenated, to whom the British nation stands in place of parent.  In the history of the soul of a people, the century just ended may be but a brief space on which to stand to take stock of what is past and seek inspiration for the future, to talk of progress made and progress possible.

  “Where lies the land to which the ship would go? 
  Far, far ahead, is all her seamen know. 
  And where the land she travels from away? 
  Far, far behind, is all that they can say."[132]

But the past century is all the experience of India we Britons have, and we are bound to reflect well upon it in our outlook ahead.

[Footnote 1:  The Senate and People of Rome—­Senatus Populus-que Romanus.]

[Footnote 2:  In the Hindu College at Benares, affiliated to Allahabad University, certain orthodox Hindus also objected to sacred texts being read in the presence of European professors and teachers.  Think of it, in that college preparing students for ordinary modern degrees!—­Bose, Hindu Civilisation, I. xxxiii.]