Just as memorable was the visit arranged by the Indian Government for the purpose of enabling him to make personal investigations on the spot in South Africa. Gokhale on his arrival there was received with the utmost cordiality and respect by Generals Botha, Smuts and others, was given every facility for studying the facts for himself, and for the due investigation of the phenomena concerned. Even those who suggest that the warm and enthusiastic reception given him by the South African Government, and the honour and confidence bestowed on him by the Home Government led him to make a dangerous com promise at least in theory, in respect of the right of free entry enjoyed by all British subjects into any colony of the Empire, will have to concede that an inch of solid advance made in fact is preferable, to say the least about it, to a mile of problematic advance in theory. Gokhale must be fully conscious that the right to migrate to and from component parts of the Empire was the potential birthright of his country men. But he was also aware of the disturbing fact that public opinion in the colony was not amenable to philosophical considerations, that racial prejudice existed, that the composite character of the popula tion there complicated matters still more, and that even among European colonists there were people in different stages of civilisation ; and finally that such embarrassing considerations as differences in standards of comfort, and racial characteristics, could not be revolutionised by a stroke of the pen or a single word of mouth. So he welcomed the opportunities where his mediation could bear fruit, and instead of wasting time on an academic discussion of the rights of British citizenship, which might only exist on paper, he tried to improve the situation enough to cause immediate relief, even though the difficulties and disabilities that yet remain afford plentiful material for the exercise of bold statesmanship, and the sustaining of organised agitation on the part of leaders and followers alike. We see in all this, evidence of practical instincts, which led him beyond the subtleties of a mere discussion of theories, and theories which might have left others despair ing and despondent, stimulated Gokhale's efforts towards the achievement of the practical, even though his idealism had to be tempered with what were only hard unwelcome facts of an ugly situation.
But the achievement of Gokhale's which will lift him to the highest pinnacle of fame, was his failure (or what seemed like failure) in getting his Education ' Bill for free and compulsory instruction for the masses passed by the Imperial Council ! He no doubt failed in his objective, but by his heroic efforts towards stimulating public opinion and even edu cating the official mind out of indifference to the stupendous volume of India's illiteracy, and the moral and material helplessness which it connotes, he has done more than perhaps, he himself had sufficiently thought. For to-day people have begun to realise that the problem is an urgent one, and needs diplo matic and even generous handling. To-day, if a similar bill were to be manoeuvred through the Council, even nominated members would vote in its favour, and even the Moslem League would heartily endorse its soundness and desirability. It was no revelation of Gokhale's that after a century and a half of British rule, only ten per cent. of men and one per cent. of women had derived the benefits of rudimentary instruction.
But, even so, the focussing of public interest on this question, and on the recognition that no sub stantial political progress or even social advance is possible apart from the upliftment of the masses, has been encouraged as the necessary sequel to Gokhale's passion for this much needed reform.
The Government of India, we understand, viewed this modest measure with sympathy and even approval, if only because of the progressive views entertained by Sir Harcourt Butler, the Member for Education. But the Provincial Governments were not so advanced as to welcOme this step big with meaning and promise for the future of India. Besides, there were even popular bodies that had not sufficiently intelligently grasped the import of this proposal. Still it has stung the Government into strenuous activity and it has discouraged lethargy and indifference, on the part of the people, No less admirable was his able marshalling of statistics and his moderate though exceedingly convincing presentation of fact and argument.
His command over the English language, his mastery of the methods of debate, his appreciation of friends, and fairness towards opponents, called forth the admiration and respect of all that had dealings with him.
Even such a past-master in literary style and adept at handling figures as Lord Curzon, declared in Council—not once or twice but repeatedly—that it was a rare honour " to cross swords with the Honourable Mr. Gokhale." Sir Guy Fleetwood Wilson, the late Finance Minister of the Government of India, used to compare him to Mr. Gladstone in point of his great ability in the accurate handling of data, and the right interpretation of statistics. When owing to his unavoidable absence from the Council chamber, occasioned by his nomination to a membership of the Royal Commission on the public services of India, his unique qualities of " Leader of His Majesty's Opposition " were greatly missed, Sir Guy frankly confessed before the Members that the discussion of the Annual Budget without the presence of Mr. Gokhale was " like the study of Hamlet with Hamlet left out." No less conspicuous were Gokhale's efforts while member of the Royal Islington Commission to press forward Indian claims, to plead for the removal of racial bars and colour bars and the fuller concession to them of positions of trust and responsibility ; for the initiation of a generous policy which will recognise the primacy of the claims of Indians in their own country ; for a fairer recognition of Indian talent and administrative capacity by giving to them higher appointments than the narrow-minded policy of the day had made possible. By skilful thrust-and-parry in cross-questioning ; by offer ing information where desirable ; by combating ingenious subterfuges and specious arguments offered by the Bureaucracy in India as a reason for shutting out Indians from the higher rungs of the official ladder, Mr. Gokhale did splendid service to the Indian cause. And though Mr. Bhupendra Nath Basu, the present Indian Member of the Council for India, has already characterised the final Report of the Commission as " a mere scrap of paper fit for the waste-basket," in the presence of Lord Chelmsford, it is also true that whatever embodied in the Commission's Report points to the dawning of an ampler day for the youth of India is mainly owing to Gokhale's able and expert advocacy of legitimate claims, in the teeth of the organised resistance opposed by the vested interests in India.