Native Newspapers on Celebrations of Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria
Anjuman-i-Hind
At present India is between the two fires. The famine has already got hold of the country while the plague threatens to spread. The government of India is exerting itself to combat the dreadful calamities which have befallen the country. Approaching celebration of Queen’s long reign will be a source of great joy to the Indian people, but that their present distress will mar all the pleasure which they would otherwise naturally feel at the thought of the coming happy event.
Jami-ul-alum
Irish have, it is beyond the shadow of doubt, some sense of patriotism. It would appear from telegram that they have refused to hold any rejoicing in the honour of the Diamond Jubilee on the ground that they have many complaints against the government. As they have white faces, no one can accuse them of disloyalty. Such a charge can only be brought against Indians. But the Irish ought to know that the poor Queen is not responsible for their grievances. Her majesty is, so to speak, only a signing machine. Their wrath should be directed against the parliament. A more systematic sovereign never sat not will ever sit on a throne, and therefore no class of Her Majesty’s subjects should demur to partake in the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee. But of course men should not go beyond their means, like the Indian title hunters….
…Let the commemoration day be observed with all kinds of rejoicing and congratulatory address presented on the occasion, but the Indians ought not to seek to please the local authorities by falsely praising the famine and plague measures at the same time….
Almora Akhbar
Government should bestow some favors upon them in return on such a happy occasion (Diamond Jubilee). The spread of education should be encouraged by reducing the college and school fees and making the examination system less severe than at present.. The native press which is ready to point out the faults of government, should be viewed with favour and not with suspicion. Men who expose, and not those who hide one’s faults are one’s true friends.