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6. The political advantages of the transfer it is impossible to overestimate. Delhi is still a name to conjure with. It is intimately associated in the minds of the Hindus with sacred legends which go back even beyond the dawn of history. It is in the plains of Delhi that the Pandava Princes fought out with the Kurawas the epic struggle recorded in the Mahabarata, and celebrated on the banks of the Jumna the famous sacrifice which consecrated their title to Empire. The Purana Kila still marks the site of the city which they founded and called Indraprastha, barely three miles from the south gate of the modern city of Delhi. To the Mahomedans it ,would be a source of unbounded gratification to see the ancient capital of the Moguls restored to its proud position as the seat of Empire. Throughout India, as far south as the Mahomedan conquest extended, every walled town has its" Delhi Gate," and. among the masses of the people it is still revered as the seat of the former Empire. The change would strike the imagination of the people of India as nothing else could do,would send a wave of enthusiasm throughout the country, and would be accepted by all as the assertion of an unfaltering determination to maintain British rule in India. It would be hailed with joy by the Ruling Chiefs and the races of Northern India, and would be warmly welcomed by the vast majority of Indians throughout the continent.
7. The only serious opposition to the transfer which may be anticipated, may, we think, come from the European commercial community of Calcutta, who might, we fear, not regard the creation of a Governorship of Bengal as altogether adequate compensation for the withdrawal of the Government of India. The opposition will be quite intelligible, but he can no doubt count upon their patriotism to reconcile them to a measure which would greatly contribute to the welfare of the Indian Empire. The Bengalis might not, of course, be favourably disposed to the proposal if it stood alone, for it will entail the loss of some of the influence which they now exercise owing to the fact that Calcutta is the head-quarters of the Government of India. But as we hope presently to show they should be reconciled to the change by other features of our scheme which are specially designed to give satisfaction to Bengali sentiment. I n these circumstances we do not think that they would be so manifestly unreasonable as to oppose it, and, if they did, might confidently expect that their opposition would raise no echo in the rest of India.
8. Absolutely conclusive as these general considerations in favour of the transfer of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi in themselves appear to us to be, there are further special considerations arising out of the present political situation in Bengal and Eastern Bengal which, in our opinion, render such a measure peculiarly opportune at such a moment, and to these we would now draw Your Lordship's earnest attention.
9. Various circumstances have forced upon us the conviction that the bitterness of feeling engendered by the Partition of Bengal is very widespread and unyielding and that we are by no means at an end of the troubles which have followed upon that measure. Eastern Bengal and Assam has, no doubt, benefited greatly by the Partition and the Mahomedans of the Province, who form a large majority of the population, are loyal and contented, but the resentment amongst the Bengalis in both Provinces of Bengal, who hold most of the land, fill the professions, and exercise a preponderating influence in public affairs, is as strong as ever, though somewhat less vocal.
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