Sri Aurobindo
Karmayogin
Political Writings and Speeches — 1909-1910
Karmayogin: A Weekly Review
Saturday 18th September 1909 — No.13
Facts and Opinions
The Reforms
An argument advanced in favour of the Reforms is that, however ineffectual and illusory the expansion of the Legislative Councils may be — and the illusory nature of that expansion cannot be seriously denied,— still there is included in the Reform Scheme a 
measure of local self-government generous, complete and effective, which is well worth acceptance.
We are by no means certain how far a substantial measure of local self-government is really contemplated by the Government.
It was originally proposed, we believe, to form local self-governing bodies elected by the people and uncontrolled by any official chairman.
But many things were originally proposed which seem to have little chance of taking shape as ultimate actualities.
We are not aware how far the measure will be carried out, what limitation may be put upon it or whether the control of the official chairman will not be replaced by a higher and more distant but eventually more effective control.
We shall have to be thoroughly assured on these points before we can allow that any measure of local self-government included in the measure can outweigh the nugatory character of the main change in the instruments of government.
Unless the local self-government is complete and ungrudging, it may be a convenient measure and to a slight extent strengthen the educated class in the mofussils, but it cannot be a vital measure or even one of the first importance among changes of administrative structure.
In any case it cannot outweigh, however full it may be, the disastrous character of the principle of separate electorates introduced by Lord Morley, intentionally or unintentionally, as the thin end of a wedge which, when driven well home, will break our growing nationality into a hundred jarring pieces.
Only by standing aloof from the new councils can this destruction be avoided.
This is the point on which we feel bound to lay stress again and again because it is the one vital and effective thing in the new measure, all the rest is mere frippery and meaningless decoration.
It would be a poor statesmanship which bought a small and temporary gain by throwing away the future of the nation and the hope of a1 united India, and posterity will have reason to curse the memory of any popular leader who for the sake either of more gilt on the “gilded shams” or even for a real measure of local self-government, induces the nation to accept the reforms with the separate electorate and special privileges for one community as an essential feature.