Journal of Indian History August 1944

Evidence in writing was taken of the Maharaja's retinue the Dewan Ajodhya Parshad Fakeer Zehoor-ud-Din the Prohit Golab Rai the family priest of the Maharajas of Lahore and Sardar Boor Singh that no improper influence had been in their estimation made use of to make him change his belief in the religion of his people. [...] Might we draw the conclusion that though the Government did not actively influence the mind of the child they were entirely indifferent to his religious instrution and all the time the atmosphere under which he lived and the silent and indirect though well-planned and premeditated influence of Sir John Login was such that led to the inevitable result. [...] He was a personal friend of HiS Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and of the rest of the Royal Family while Queen Victoria actually took the interest of a mother in him. [...] It would not be too much to say that his financial position and the treatment he received at the hands of the Government ultimately assured him that neither was there a genuine desire to assimilate him nor was it Worth while from his point of view to mould his thoughts and wishes to suit the interests of the English and forego all his rights and claims as he was being' required to do for the [...] If it was not attached with danger the proper course to pursue was to show complete indifference to the proceedings of an erratic individual.34 The Times of India" also opined that the Government was in error in attaching the importance they did to the effect of Dalip Singh's presence on Indian soi1.35 The arrest of Dalip Singh however proved to be the last straw on his back.