ely must end in disaster and death.
This is equally true of the intellectual life of a Nation. When through
narrow conceit a Nation regards itself self-sufficient and cuts itself
from the stimulus of the outside world, then intellectual decay must
inevitably follow.

SPECIAL FUNCTION OF A NATION

So far as regards the receptive function. Then there is another function
in the intellectual life of a Nation, that of spontaneous outflow, that
giving out of its life by which the world is enriched. When the Nation
has lost this power, when it merely receives, but cannot give out, then
its healthy life is over, and it sinks into a degenerate existence which
is purely parasitic.

HOW INDIA CAN TEACH

How can our Nation give out of the fulness of the life that is in it,
and how can a new Indian University help in the realisation of this
object? It is clear that its power of directing and inspiring will
depend on its world status. This can be secured to it by no artificial
means, nor by any strength in the past; and what is the weakness that
has been paralysing her activities for the accomplishment of any great
scientific work? There must be two different elements, and these must be
evenly balanced. Any excess of either will injure it.

HOW TO SECURE THIS STATUS

This world status can only be won by the intrinsic value of the great
contributions to be made by its own Indian scholars for the advancement
of the world's knowledge. To be organic and vital our new University
must stand primarily for self-expression, and for winning for India a
place she has lost. Knowledge is never the exclusive possession of any
particular race, nor does it recognise geographical limitations. The
whole world is interdependent, and a constant stream of thought had been
carried out throughout the ages enriching the common heritage of
mankind. Although science was neither of the East nor of the West but
international, certain aspects of it gained richness by reason of their
place of origin.

In any case if India need to make any contribution to the world it
should be as great as the hope they cherished for her. Let them not
talk of the glories of the past till they have secured for her, her true
place among the intellectual nations of the world. Let them find out how
she had fallen from her high estate and ruthlessly put an end to all
that self satisfied and little-minded vanity which had been the cause of
their fatal weakness. What was i