Page:An Essay On Hinduism.pdf/157

homogeneous in ideas, customs and manners, and in what we may call "civilization."

In the process of unification what things have taken and will take the lead has differed and will differ according to the times and place. In some countries the propaganda of religions did great service, while in some other places political conquest has made the chief contribution. Political and religious conquests have been the most important factors; but not the only factors.

Political conquest merely makes one political body out of a number of distinct political groups. Political conquest does not necessarily lead to social integration. It often fails in making the community brought under one government a homogeneous nation. But very often this conquest accelerates the process. Let us see how it does.

First of all the political conquest tries to obliterate ruthlessly the past civilization. It often enforces its own religion on the conquered tribe. This factor was very potent in the past ages, but it is not so now. The conquest very often leads to the suppression of the language of the conquered by the language of the rulers. The patriotic element in the conquered country generally resents such change, but very often it has to acknowledge the defeat, and yield. The suppression of the native language and superimposition of a foreign one makes the conquering and conquered nation similar in thought and idea. The higher education is generally given in the language of the conquerors instead of that of the conquered, with the pretence that the languages of the conquered are not suitable carriers of the higher thought, science and culture. The administration is also carried on in the language of the conquerors.