assaulting an Indian may be innocent or guilty, but, as he cannot be punished, it does not matter an atom whether he is innocent or guilty.
The fight has to be fought out to the end and the resort to law is no more than a persistent superstition.Sri Aurobindo
Bande Mataram
Early Political Writings. 1890 — May 1908
Bande Mataram. 4 September, 1906
Jamalpur
Our correspondent's report from Jamalpur gives the sober facts of the situation and clears away the mist of misrepresentation and wild rumour with which the Anglo-Indian journals have sought to obscure the incident.
From the beginning the English version has been an attempt to throw the whole blame on the workmen by charging them with rioting before the gunshots.
Their version has varied from day to day.
With the exception of one or two minor details, the opposite version has been throughout clear, consistent and rational.
There will, of course, be the usual cases and counter-cases and diametrically opposite statements sworn to in evidence.
But we have ceased to take any interest in this1 futile legal proceedings.
An Englishman assaulting an Indian may be innocent or guilty, but, as he cannot be punished, it does not matter an atom whether he is innocent or guilty.
The fight has to be fought out to the end and the resort to law is no more than a persistent superstition.
Later edition of this work: The Complete Works of Sri Aurobindo.- Set in 37 volumes.- Volumes 6-7.- Bande Mataram: Political Writings and Speeches. 1890–1908 .- Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram, 2002.- 1182 p.
1 2002 ed. CWSA, vol.6-7: these