Aged Begum’s Stirring Appeal For Nation’s Peace

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 218, 3 December 1927, Page 24 (Supplement)

Aged Begum’s Stirring Appeal For Nation’s Peace

BHE Dowager Begum of Bliopal, who visited England early last year to secure the succession of her son, in whose favour she had abdicated, has expressed her anxiety at the widespread rioting and discord prevalent in India. In a message to an assembly of leaders of public opinion at Simla, the Begum writes: —- “I have been more worried Ilian ever before in my life to read in the newspapers, day in and day out, of the surging wave of communal discord that has swept over the country, and has torn into shreds the whole fabric of Indian brotherhood. “Heartily grieved as I have been at these harrowing accounts, I have at the same time felt rather diffident as to whether an old woman like myself, at this advanced age (the Begum is over 70) could do anything in the way of bringing about harmony and concord among the warring communities of India. “Old age—and the desire it begets

wild bees hum; now and again there is a silky whisper of wings to he heard, among the branches, while the tui’s stacc.ata note sounds in liquid melody. On the left is a bank of ferns which hang their graceful leafy fronds in waves of vivid green. Soon the pathway joins the City Council’s motor drive, and we leave the joyous haunts of wild birds and glorious native plants to hasten to the bay, where another pleasure is reserved. The pohutukawas are in full bloom. Tire tops, caught in the sunlight, are as though freshly dipped in blood, with the lower branches clotted in deeping shades of crimson, while over the dark-green shining leaves is spread a faint crimson stain from the scattered stamens of the flowers. To tired city dwellers, worried by the housing problem and the cost of living, this romantic spot should do more good than all the sermons ever preached. Here, indeed, one is near to the great pulsing heart of Nature in her most entrancing and appealing guise, and through His silent agents God most assuredly speaks to us to refresh our bodies, revive our spirits, and enrich our souls, and w-e go on our ways, feeling that, after all: God's in His HeavenAll’s right with the world.

of leading a peaceful life of retirement and devotion to the Great God, free and untrammeled by any mundane cares—compelled me, about IS months ago, to make over the reins of government to my beloved son, the present Ruler of Bhopal. “But the peace of mind and freedom from cares and anxieties that I thus sought were denied to me.

“Now, however, the most stirring appeal made by the Viceroy at Simla, followed by the sincere and laudable sentiments expressed by my beloved son in his inaugural address to the Legislative Council of Bliopal, lias given me strength and courage to do my little bit in this matter of supreme importance to the well-being and ordered progress of my countrymen. “I have learnt with gratification and thankfulness of the conference that the leaders of various communities are now holding at Simla to find a happy solution of this most unhappy problem. “May the Almighty God crown your noble efforts with the glorious success they deserve. Willing To Emerge “As an old woman, I devoutly appeal to your highest sense of patriotism to leave no stone unturned and no avenue unexplored to remove this ugly blot from the fair face of our common motherhood. “I should like my feeble but nonetheless sincere voice to reach the hearts and homes of my unfortunate countrymen.

“I am old and infirm, yet ready and willing to come out of my retirement and to place my services cheerfully at the disposal of the country for what they are worth, and in whatever way all those who are working to achieve unity among tlie warring sections of the two great communities may deem fit to utilise them. “This is a sacred objective as dear to my heart as it is, I am sure, to the heart of every well-wisher of the community.”

Bhopal is a Central Indian State whose ruler ranks high among the Princes of the Eastern Empire; though its area is less than that of Wales, and its population is hardly three-quarters of a million. Its people are mostly Hindus.