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 



