DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9551#0355
SPEECHES AND LETTERS.
-o-
SPEECHES.
I
Speech on settlement of Europeans in India.
From personal experience, I am impressed with the
conviction that the greater our intercourse with European
gentlemen, the greater will be our improvement in
literary, social, and political affairs ; a fact which can be
easily proved by comparing the condition of those of my
countrymen who have enjoyed this advantage with that of
those who unfortunately have not had that opportunity ;
and a fact which I could, to the best of my belief, declare
on solemn oath before any assembly. As to the indigo
planters, I beg to observe that I have travelled through
several districts in Bengal and Behar, and I found the
natives residing in the neighbourhood of indigo planta-
tions evidently better clothed and better conditioned
than those who lived at a distance from such stations.
There may be some partial injury done by the indigo
planters ■, but, on the whole, they have performed more
good to the generality of the natives of this country than
any other class of Europeans, whether in or out of the
service."*
* A great public meeting was held at the Town Hall of Cal-
cutta on the 15th of December 1829, for the purpose of peti-
tioning the Parliament to throw open the China and India trade
and to remove the restrictions against settlement of Europeans
in India. The above is the report of the speech which Ram
Mohun Roy is said to have made in supporting the resolution
for abolishing the restrictions on the residence of Europeans in
India. It is reprinted from the Asiatic Journal Vol. II. New
Series, May-August 1830.—Ed.
-o-
SPEECHES.
I
Speech on settlement of Europeans in India.
From personal experience, I am impressed with the
conviction that the greater our intercourse with European
gentlemen, the greater will be our improvement in
literary, social, and political affairs ; a fact which can be
easily proved by comparing the condition of those of my
countrymen who have enjoyed this advantage with that of
those who unfortunately have not had that opportunity ;
and a fact which I could, to the best of my belief, declare
on solemn oath before any assembly. As to the indigo
planters, I beg to observe that I have travelled through
several districts in Bengal and Behar, and I found the
natives residing in the neighbourhood of indigo planta-
tions evidently better clothed and better conditioned
than those who lived at a distance from such stations.
There may be some partial injury done by the indigo
planters ■, but, on the whole, they have performed more
good to the generality of the natives of this country than
any other class of Europeans, whether in or out of the
service."*
* A great public meeting was held at the Town Hall of Cal-
cutta on the 15th of December 1829, for the purpose of peti-
tioning the Parliament to throw open the China and India trade
and to remove the restrictions against settlement of Europeans
in India. The above is the report of the speech which Ram
Mohun Roy is said to have made in supporting the resolution
for abolishing the restrictions on the residence of Europeans in
India. It is reprinted from the Asiatic Journal Vol. II. New
Series, May-August 1830.—Ed.