PRESENT POSITION AND PROSPECTS 107 of what is produced may not have great value as literature, but it is all helping to cultivate and enlarge the resources of the language to meet the needs of to-day. A Hindi society which has its headquarters at Allahabad is the Sahitya Savimelayi, which conducts examinations in Hindi of a very high standard and grants diplomas, and is trying to establish purely Hindi schools in all parts of North and Mid India. Amongst other societies that are doing much to extend Hindi literature the No7'th India Tract Society and other Christian societies hold an important place. Through the agency of these societies a great deal of Hindi literature has been produced not only of a directly religious nature, but also stories, biographies, educational books, and books on social and other subjects. Indian people themselves are often largely unaware how much of the new movements for political freedom, social emancipation, and religious reform are really inspired by Christian ideals. India has seen the vision of a future glory for herself and her children greater even than her past achievements, excellent as these have been. New ideals of righteousness and of duty, of brotherhood and of service have come before her, and inspiration for these has been very largely due to the life and teaching of Christ, who in this as in so many other ways is the fulfilment of all that is noble and excellent in Indian life. The ideas of the old mythology, which formed so large a part of the themes of writers in the past, are on the wane, and the past ideals with regard to many other matters are undergoing a charge. India is seeking out after a larger, a fuller, a more complete life than she has lived in the past. In this development the vernacular literature is bound to have a most important part to play. The responsibility resting upon all writers, where such great issues are at stake, is very great, but the situation is one which should call forth the very best and noblest work from all who are concerned in the production of literature.
