Town Planning in Ancient India c2.4

c2.4

India is indeed at the outset of a reconstruction movement, say rather, of a Reconstructive Period. It is no doubt a good beginning to revive domestic industries, but it is a yet better advance to be renewing the villages themselves; and these from agriculture homewards and towards the associated life; a life co-operative alike towards material efficiency and well-being and towards renewed and advancing culture. So while the Indian people are rightly cheered to have their foremost political leader insisting on the revival of home industries, they will soon be yet more rejoiced to know how their foremost poet—a world-poet as well, a creative educationalist too, making the first Applied Faculty of his new University—and a new one for all Universities—that of Village Reconstruction. In this great initiative of Indian renewal, Mr. Dutt’s book here before us has its definite place and use, since so full of historical information and that of practical suggestiveness. Thus, despite its studious calm, it brings inspiration for the opening generation; since in this a happily increasing number are preparing themselves for action. And this in no mere political sense; but above all as constructive citizens of their communities, in social service, local, regional and civic; and thus widening, to Indian; indeed thence even to stimulus and encouragement in lands beyond.