THE
DEWAN
W.
SOMERSET MAUGHAM
[This
excerpt from “A Writer’s Notebook” is reproduced here as a fine
assessment of Dr. C. P. by the celebrated novelist.]
He
had the geniality of the politician who for years has gone out of his way to be
cordial with everyone he meets. He talked very good English,
fluently, with a copious choice of words, and he put what he had to say
plainly, and with logical sequence. He had a resonant voice and
an easy manner. He did not agree with a good deal that I said and corrected me
with decision, but with courtesy that took it for granted I was too intelligent
to be affronted by contradiction. He was of course very busy, having all the
affairs of the State in his charge, but seemed to have enough leisure to talk
for the best part of an hour on Indian metaphysics and religion as though there
were nothing that interested him more. He seemed well read not only in Indian
literature, but in English, but there was no indication that he had any
acquaintance with the literature or thought of other European countries.
When
I began to speak of religion in India as being the basis of all their
philosophy, he corrected me. “No”, he said, “this is not so; there is no
religion in India in your sense of the word; there are systems of philosophy,
and theism, Hindu theism, is one of its varieties.”
I
asked him if educated, cultured Hindus had still an active belief in Karma
and transmigration. He answered with emphasis; “I absolutely
believe in it myself with all the strength of my being. I am convinced that I
have passed through innumerable lives before this one and that I shall have to
pass through I do not know how many more before I secure release. Karma and
transmigration are the only possible explanations I can
see for the inequalities of men and for the evils of the
world. Unless I believed in them I should think the world meaningless.”