File 53/1915 Part IV 'German War: Turkey; Caliphate etc' [‎226r] (448/481)

I here is also one other point which should not be lost sight of At
present, no matter what the feelings of Indian Moslems may be, nor what
the extent of the ramifications of Indian seditionism, such influences find no
equivalent among the Arabs of Irak, either urban nor rural, and since the
best elements look to us for good and firm government, it would be a mistake
to put them fiom the very outset within the scope of action of subtle and
powerful forces which will begin spreading unrest and- disaffection at the
first available opportunity.
SECTION
II.
INDIAN MOSLEMS AND THE WAIL
With regard to the attitude ol Indian Moslems in the present war, it is
very difficult to generalise owing to the diversities of sect, race, and avocation
among Indian Mohammedans, however, it is impossible to talk to Indian
Mohammedans and British civil and military officers in the Indian service
about Islam in India without getting certain impressions. In the first place,
basing one’s acquaintance with Islam on experience in Turkey, Arabia, the
Caucasus, Egypt, Tunis, and Algeria, there is one factor in the situation
with which one cannot fail to he impressed, and that is the extreme
ignorance of Indian Mohammedans as a whole, of Islamic theological
doctrine as taught in the schools and universities or the Al Azhar, Damascus,
Constantinople, and Kairawan. Indian Mohammedanism, as far as theo
logical learning is concerned, appears to be at a low ebb. At first this
would seem to be a matter of slight importance, but on examination it will
be found to be a considerable disadvantage to us as rulers, and to open an
avenue for our enemies.
In the first place it makes it easy for any charlatan to impose on Indian
Moslems the most absurd ideas as for instance, that the city of Baghdad is
a holy city, that Adrianople is the site of holy shrines, that Constantinople
is the ancient capital of Islam, ideas which not the rudest Anatolian would
entertain. Further, it makes it very difficult to impress on Indian Moslems
the absolutely hypocritical attitude of the Committee of Union and
Progress, the enmity of the Turkish clerical party for the Committee, and
the sordid motives which impelled the 1 urks to war.
From all I heard it was impossible not to feel that the bulk of Indian
Moslems sympathised with the Turks more or less-the educated because
they have* been affected by young Turkish propaganda, the uneducated
because they have no learned theological body to keep them straight. For
this state of affairs (although it is presumptuous for me to say so) I think
want of touch between the Indian Government and the real tendency of
development in the Near East is partly responsible. Thus the Red Crescent
Societv, which is neither more nor less than a revolutionary anti-theological
pan-Islamic machine, was suffered to work on the fertile soil of Indian
educated Mohammedan Seditionism and Indian uneducated Mohammedan
ignorance for some time before the war. On the score of avoiding wounding
religions susceptibilities we have never taken the held m the Butish Indian
press ami in st the Committee of Union and Progress, and a certain remote
ness from the scene has produced an atmosphere of acquiescence and
tolerance for things dangerous to our peace. As examples 1 enclose a small
mniDhlet* I bought on a bookstall, and a cutting from a British Indian
newspaper,'® each containing the seeds of immense mischief; while ,t may
j,e incidentally mentioned that one may meet at Simla or Delhi young
students wearing a crescent and star badge on a lurkish nulitaiy cap, m
itself a deliberate challenge to our authority. . . ,
Our attitude is one of apology, of fear, ol nervous coiisideratioii, win e
i-enemies are working against us with weapons which, it the truth were
our
* Not reproduced.
B
S. 281 ).