The Punjab Chiefs' Association

· 1911 · Public domain (published pre-1930) · archive.org ↗

1The Punjab Chiefs' Association,

2right path in hard cases of disquietude of the popular mind, and

3where law and gibbet failed to dissuade people from committing the

4heinous crimes that are cherished by barbarous customs.

5There can, therefore, be no doubt that an aristocracy is not only

6a source of strength to the people at large but also to the Government

7of the land, and it is always recognised as such.

8The next question is whether the present aristocracy perform

9their duties in every particular, and whether it is not a fact that their

10would-be rivals will discover that they have ceased to be the better

11race. I do not for a moment mean any offence, nor do I mean to

12disparage the good qualities of a few among the aristocracy, but 1

13may be excused for remarking that it is far below the standard

14it is expected to occupy. The middle classes and the masses

15consider them to be dullards and dissipated imbeciles, and therefore

16do not reckon them as their leaders of thought and action. I mus'

17painfully acknowledge that there is a great deal of truth in this

18estimation of them.

19The Ciovernment on the other hand takes solicitous care of the

20nobility and aristocracy witli a view to maintain their existence and

21leaves no stone unturned to ameliorate their condition and strive as

22best it can to preserve their distinct entity. The foundation of the

23Chiefs' College, the many courts of wards, the rank given in Durbars,

24the position allotted to them on all public functions, their nomination

25to Legislative Councils, the seeking of their co-operation in all matters

26of public importance, clearly prove the benign interest of our

27Government in them as a class. Yet the improvement is not satisfactory.

28Perhaps the establishment of the recently proposed Girls' School as a

29counterpart of the Aitchison College, may assist in giving a new and