Page:An Essay On Hinduism.pdf/188

never existed either as a class or caste; it existed only in idea. It was only the Brahmanical theory that such a class exists. The theory of four varṇas has been an ideal to which the society, according to the Brāhmaṇa ideas, ought to conform. Hindu military classes failed to federate and therefore failed to create а class or caste that is universally respected. The only sources which could have helped to create a class which could dominate above all, and thus help to unite the communities, are political authority and sacerdoce. The political authority under Hinduism has failed in this attempt. After the overthrow of the Hindu princes by the Mohamedans the Hindu princes and the chiefs lost a great deal of their prestige, but the leadership of the Hindus instead of passing to the new political authority, namely, Mohamedan rulers, passed almost entirely to the Brāhmaņas. Mohamedans were not regarded by the Hindus as their social head, but were regarded simply as out-castes who have taken the political authority by force. The Hindus, instead of thinking themselves honoured by intermarriage with Mohamedan rulers, would regard themselves as fallen and degraded if they were compelled to contract a marriage with this impure race. The same thing may be said of the English. The English cannot play the part of the social aristocracy of India as long as they are regarded as impure by the Hindus, and unbelieving idolaters by the Mohamedans.

Can a class be formed out of Indian princes, chiefs, and other potentates? In my opinion it is possible to create such a class and to use that class to unify India. It would also be desirable in many ways to make the princes, instead of the Brāhmaṇas, the head of the society from many stand-