Dr. Gyanee Gives Solution To War
This article, published in April 1932 during Bhagwan Singh Gyanee’s lecture tour in the United States—long after he had distanced himself from the Ghadar revolutionary circle—reveals a striking shift in his public stance on war. In it, Bhagwan Singh is quoted as saying: “Send those first into war who wish war, and then when all have been sent who want war, send no reinforcements and shoot everyone as a traitor and spy who makes money from the bloodshed.”
Yet this anti‑war posture stands in sharp contrast to his earlier role in the Ghadar Party, where he actively urged members to join plans for an armed uprising. Bhagwan Singh’s own actions further underscore this contradiction. In a photograph taken during his time in Japan, he posed with a sword, symbolizing his belief that India’s freedom could only be won through armed revolution.
His rhetoric shifted with his audience—fiery and militant when addressing Ghadar members who were ready to sacrifice their lives after hearing his anti‑colonial poetry and speeches; but suddenly pacifist and anti‑war when addressing American audiences who were overwhelmingly opposed to war. Bhagwan Gyanee used funds provided by the Ghadar Party and the German government for his own personal benefit during his time in the movement, one Sikh member of the Ghadar Party described him as someone who “enjoyed material comforts, a life of ease, and intimate female companionship.”
Taken together, these inconsistencies suggest that Bhagwan Singh understood how to tailor his message to whatever audience stood before him—even when it meant contradicting the very ideals he once claimed to champion.
Transcription
DR. GYANEE GIVES OF WAR SOLUTION - April 18-1932, appeared to have published in new paper in and around Indianapolis, Indiana
"Send those first into war who wish war and then when all have been sent who want war send no re-enforcements and shoot every one as a traitor and spy who makes money from the bloodshed," said Dr. Bhagwan Gyanee, Hindu lecturer, in answer to a question on what his solution of war is, at the close of his lecture on "Vision, the Creative Power of Man," Sunday evening at the Columbian club.
His lecture might have been a plea for peace, so thoroughly was it steeped in logic and reasoning for world brotherhood. "America and India are most as-surely affinities," he said. "Most of the new religious creeds and beliefs which are springing up in America have their origin in India. Even Mary Baker Eddy, founder of Christian Science, said in her early writings that much credit was due India for her findings. "Then, too, America and India are opposites. Americans are always on the rush. People of India never rush. They sit in the shade of a tree and ponder over philosophy. Americans wonder how they can do that. The Hindu wonders how Americans can always, always, rush."
Dr. Gyanee laughed at the statement of an American university professor who said that America had 50,000 thinkers, He said that in the whole world there are not five thinkers, such as Franklin, Napoleon, Socrates, Plato, etc.
His lectures continue on through the week except Tuesday evening and those who attend are urged to be at the Columbian club at 5 o'clock. Sunday evening crowd taxed the seating capacity of the Columbian club.
