Chapter 92 Chapter Thirteen: Indian Public Opinion

Before I go on to my intimate intercourse with other Europeans, I must mention two or three important things.However, my contact with one of them should be discussed here at once.Miss Dick's appointment was not enough for my work needs, and I needed more help. I mentioned Mr. Li Qi in the previous chapters, and I knew him very well.He was the manager of a firm, and he agreed with my proposal to leave the firm and come to me, thus greatly reducing my burden.It was about this time that Mr. Madanjit approached me with the proposal to start The Indian Opinion, and asked for my opinion.He has already started a printing shop, and I agree with his proposal.This journal was founded in 1904. Mr. Mansuklar Naza was the first editor, but the work of running this journal has to be undertaken by me. In fact, most of my time is spent on this journal. .It wasn't that Mansuklar couldn't handle it. He ran a lot of newspapers in India, but he wouldn't write about the intricate South African problems as long as I was there.He trusted my opinion so much that he gave me the editorial column.The publication, which remains a weekly until today, is initially available in Gujarati, Hindi, Tamil and English.But I feel that the Tamil and Hindi versions are of little practical value, they don't work as they should, so I stopped them so as not to come across as fraudulent.

It did not occur to me at first that I myself would spend any money on this publication, but I soon discovered that it would be difficult to continue publishing without my financial help.Both Indians and Europeans understand that although I am not the official editor of "Indian Opinion", in fact, I am in charge of the management.It is nothing if the publication has not been launched, but once it has been published, it will not only be a loss, but also a shame if it is stopped midway.So I continued to give support until my deposit was almost exhausted. I remember a time when I was sending out £75 a month.

However, after several years, I feel that this publication is very beneficial to the Indian overseas Chinese community.It was never considered a commercial endeavor.As it has always been under my management, the changes in this publication illustrate the changes in my own life.The "Indian Opinion" back then, like "Young India" and "New Life" today, was a reflection of a part of my life.Week after week, I poured my heart and soul into the pages of this publication, promoting, as far as I could understand, the principles and practices of the movement for nonviolent resistance.During the ten years of its publication, that is, until 1914, I had articles in almost every issue of Indian Opinion, except for a break during my forced rest in prison.In these articles, as far as I can remember, there is not a single word that is not carefully thought out, and there is no intentional exaggeration, or something specifically to please.

It is true that this journal has become a good field for me to exercise self-control, and for my friends, it is a medium for keeping in touch with my thoughts. Even the carping critic will find nothing to object to in it.In fact, the tone of "Indian Opinion" has forced critics to restrain their pen.Without Indian Opinion, the civil resistance movement might not have been able to get going.From this publication the reader wishes to know the reliable facts of the civil resistance movement, and from it the real situation of the Indians in South Africa.For me, it is a means by which I study various aspects of human nature, because I have always wanted to create an intimate and legitimate relationship between editor and reader.I have often basked in the many heartfelt letters of my readers.Due to the different temperaments of the writers, some letters are kind and caring, some are serious criticisms, and some are slanderous.Researching, digesting and answering all these letters has been a great education for me.Through these letters, I seem to hear the voice of the overseas Chinese group.It made me fully aware of my responsibilities as a journalist, and also because I captured the overseas Chinese community through this publication and made the future movement possible with such dignity and irresistible spirit.

Within the first month of publication of Indian Opinion, I realized that the sole purpose of journalism should be to serve.The newspaper is a great force, but an uncontrolled pen can do as much to ruin fields and crops as a wild torrent can.If control comes from outside, it is more harmful than no control.Only inner supervision can be beneficial.If this statement is true, how many newspapers in the world can stand this test?But who can stop the useless press?And who will be the referee?The useful and the useless must coexist as the good and the bad, and people must choose for themselves.