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100 Years Ago | 25 Aug 1918

On this day a century ago, these were some of the news items The Statesman readers got to read about India and the world.

100 Years Ago | 25 Aug 1918

OCCASIONAL NOTE

An apologist for Nietzsche has arisen in Madras in the person of Dr. Anandy Coomaraswamy who, in an article he contributes to the Hindustan Review, finds the doctrine of the “Superman” and of the “will to power” in conformity with many of the highest ideals of Indian literature.

For the superman, whose virtue stands “beyond good and evil,” a host of Indian names occur to Dr. Coomaraswamy – as the Buddha, Arhat, the Bodhisattwa and, above all, Jivan-Mukta (“Freed in this life”).

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To those familiar with the story of the Buddha’s life it must seem an outrage to apply to him the ravings of the German philosopher who tells his disciple that he “would not that their actions should be unselfish but that their very self should be in every action,” and who prays that they “may become weary of saying that an action is good because it is unselfish.”

The whole Nietzschean doctrine is summed up in the exclamation. “For me – how could there be an outside of me” and experience proves that this doctrine, translated from the individual to the national and international sphere of existence, involves the utter ruin of human happiness.

It is questionable whether even in the case of the individual it results in anything better, since Nietzsche’s own life ended in suicide. In any case the civilised world has decided that its operation must be confined in the future to the lives of the transcendental idiots who subscribe to it and not transferred to the bigger world in which the earthly existences of millions beside the supermen have to be rendered tolerable.

SPECULATIONS IN CURRENCY

A Press communiqué states that the Government of India are issuing a rule under the Defence of India Act prohibiting dealings in any legal tender coin above its face value, the value of the sovereign being declared to be fifteen rupees.

As is known, the Government of India have in recent months been issuing gold coin, namely, sovereigns and latterly gold mohurs, for the purchase of wheat, with the object of assisting the currency position and reducing the demand for rupees. This object is, however, being frustrated by the withholding from circulation of these coins in expectation of securing a speculative profit, and the intention of the present rule is to make illegal speculative transactions in the currency.

Future contracts relating to such transactions will, therefore, be legally unenforceable, and will also expose the parties to them to the penalty prescribed for a breach of the rule. It may be added that the rule in question follows a similar rule recently enacted in the United Kingdom under the Defence of the Realm Act.

CRICKET AT POONA

After an interval of three years, the Quadrangular cricket fixtures are again to be played in Poona. There are many who consider that these matches should always be played in Bombay and never in Poona, and for many reasons this might be desirable.

On the other hand, the climatic conditions and the wicket favour Poona, and there has been a general feeling of satisfaction among all classes of society in Poona that in spite of the great difficulties with which the various communities have had to contend, arrangements have been made for the matches to take place in Poona this year.

The difficulties were real, but owing to the kindness of two local gentlemen, bungalows and accommodation have been found for the Parsee and Mahomedan teams, and all difficulties have been overcome. On the last occasion these fixtures were played in Poona and the Presidency XI was successful.

The Presidency have a strong eleven this year despite the war, and the three Indian communities are also in a position to select elevens as good as any they have ever put in the field. Given fine weather and the usual fast Poona wicket, there should be high scoring, for all the teams will have really high-class batsmen.

CONSTANT BOMBARDMENT OF SOMME CROSSINGS

Reuter’s correspondent at the American headquarters says: The enemy is feeling the effects of our prolonged bombardment. Our aeroplanes are meeting less opposition owing to the urgent demand on the enemy’s aircraft elsewhere.

Our machines are effectively assisting our gunners in keeping the Aisne bridges and their approaches under constant fire. All supplies for the Germans south of the Aisne must daily cross by the bridges over the Somme, which are always unserviceable owing to our fire.

Hence they are still good targets immediately the dense morning mists have dissipated. The overpowering heat is responsible for the surrender of many Germans. They say they are unable to sleep at night owing to our artillery fire and persistent bombing, which have also reduced their supplies of food.

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