48 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
contribution to India. Both are, however true statements if looked at from economic points of view. But from another point of view, if India’s tribute cannot be weighed in the scales of justice and humanity then England’s contribution cannot be weighed in the scale of gold and silver. The last statement is both literally as well as figuratively true. England has added nothing to the stock of gold and silver in India : on the contrary, she has depleted India— “the sink of the world.”
Her contribution lies in an uneconomic realm : but just the same, it is too great to be measured in terms of coin.
“Englishmen can look back on their work in India, if not with unalloyed satisfaction, at least with some legitimate pride. They have conferred on the people of India what is the greatest human blessing—Peace. They have introduced Western education, bringing an ancient civilized nation in touch with modern institutions and life. They have built up an administration which, though it requires reform with the progress of the times, is yet, strong and efficacious. They have framed wise laws, and have established Courts of Justice, the purity of which is as absolute as in any country on the face of the earth. These are results which no honest critic of British work in India regards without high admiration.”
But whether mere animal peace is to be preferred to economic destitution, let every one decide for himself.
��