THE UMBRELLA OF STATE 277 



passages symbolise the cosmic cross of the four- 

 went rivers of the Celestial Paradise. 



The Mughal miniature, Plate XL., said to repre- 

 sent Akbar as a young man, shows a garden throne 

 or chabutra in a chenar tree. The symbolism 

 of Vishnu's pillar is very literally carried out, 

 and some such charming retreat in one of his 

 grandfather Babar's northern gardens most prob- 

 ably suggested Akbar's novel treatment of the 

 old idea. 



It has been urged in connection with the 

 planning of New Delhi, that " any departure in the 

 direction of Indian ideals, even if it produce fine 

 architecture which is open to question would 

 be misinterpreted as a weakness, as a relaxing of 

 the firm grip which maintains order." But 

 whether we know it or not, whether we like it or 

 not, consciously or unconsciously, whatever our 

 official policy may be, we cannot escape in India 

 from Indian ideals. Even the gold-embroidered 

 umbrella of State held over the King-Emperor 

 at the Delhi Durbar was but a symbol of the 

 sacred sheltering Tree ; a symbol greeted by 

 the crowds who at sundown knelt in prayer 

 before the empty thrones ; and by those who, 

 when their Majesties reached Calcutta, flung 



