(In 1917 to 1919, Sadler led the 'Sadler Commission' which looked at the state of Indian Education.
Towards the end of the First World War, the Secretary of State for India, Austen Chamberlain, invited Sadler to accept the chairmanship of a commission the government proposed to appoint to inquire into the affairs of Calcutta University. Chamberlain wrote: ’Lord Chelmsford [the Viceroy] informs me that they hope for the solution of the big political problems of India through the solution of the educational problems’. After some hesitation, Sadler accepted the invitation. Under his direction the Commission far exceeded its initial terms of reference. The result was thirteen volumes issued in 1919, providing a comprehensive sociological account of the context in which Mahatma Gandhi was campaigning for the end of the British Raj and the independence of India.)
Michael Sadler read an essay written by Rabindtanath in the form of a manuscripttitled " The centre of Indian Culture". Rabindranath wrote to him intimating his willingness to dedicate the book to him,
" My desire was to dedicate it to you ( anticipating your permission) as a token of my admiration for your pesonality, as well as for the work you have done for us with such sympathy and thoroughness. But unfortunately, by some mischance ,my instruction failed to reach my publishers in Madras, and when the pamphlet came I was keenly disappointed by noticing the ommission. however, I take this opportunity of telling you that coming to know you has been of real service to us, for all misu7nderstanding arising out of intellectual and moral inhospitablness, between peoples thrown together, not merely affect their politics but also their spiritual life.I always feel deeply thankful when I have the occasion to learn to love an Englishman - only because our unnatural relationship has been such a great hindrance against true mutual communication. When I read your evidence before the Reform bill Commission it deepened the impress I had of your broad-mindedness .I , for my part, do not have much faith in any political concession if it be an outcome of a policy of prudence, - for all gifts contain a certain amount of moral toxin unwholesome for the receiver when unaccompanied by a true spirit of love which has the divine right to give. It greatly mitigate for me the humiliation of the of the one-sidedness of such boon when I know you and other Englishmen of your type whose chivalrous humanity is working towards reconstruction of society on a universal basis of co-operation, which is the only sure basis of peace and progress."
The report of Sadler Commission was published in 9th July, 1919 in 5 volumes. The sympathetic portion of this report appeared as praiseworthy to Rabindranath. While publishing the report of reform of administration by Mont-Ford , Sadler was an witness. The British Govt. wanted to keep the higher education within his control Sadler expressed his opinion against this and said it should be a provincial subject. This statement was appreciated by Rabindranath.
Rabindranath wrote it more critically to the Dutch poet fredrick Von Aden the last portion of the letter written to Sadler . Aden was of same opinion with Rabindranath on the issue of heartless civilisation of Europe;
"We have realised with a cruel sense of despair as to what a great calamity Europe has brought upon the rest of the world. She is using all her resources of science to make permanent the insult of humanity outside her own boundaries. And because her wisdom is the wisdom of science and not of soul, she overlooks that supreme truth that humanity is one, and all deeds of outrage offered to it and habit of insolence cultivated against it are sure to come back upon herself. Lately a gift has come to us from England in the shape of Reform bill carrying the promise of Self Government to to a certain extent. But a bill is no gift unless a heart is there - and so long as our psychology remains unchanged all boons will turn into curses, giving rise to hypocrisy and encouraging the left hand to steal from what the right hand has given. "
A few days earlier Dr. Aden wrote to Rabindranath on 20 Dec 1919;
" we all in Europe noticed with the greatest interest your refusal of the title "sir", because of the atrocities in the Punjab.We appreciated it as a good and worthy action , and the impression in England. was very strong."
Michael Sadler read an essay written by Rabindtanath in the form of a manuscripttitled " The centre of Indian Culture". Rabindranath wrote to him intimating his willingness to dedicate the book to him,
" My desire was to dedicate it to you ( anticipating your permission) as a token of my admiration for your pesonality, as well as for the work you have done for us with such sympathy and thoroughness. But unfortunately, by some mischance ,my instruction failed to reach my publishers in Madras, and when the pamphlet came I was keenly disappointed by noticing the ommission. however, I take this opportunity of telling you that coming to know you has been of real service to us, for all misu7nderstanding arising out of intellectual and moral inhospitablness, between peoples thrown together, not merely affect their politics but also their spiritual life.I always feel deeply thankful when I have the occasion to learn to love an Englishman - only because our unnatural relationship has been such a great hindrance against true mutual communication. When I read your evidence before the Reform bill Commission it deepened the impress I had of your broad-mindedness .I , for my part, do not have much faith in any political concession if it be an outcome of a policy of prudence, - for all gifts contain a certain amount of moral toxin unwholesome for the receiver when unaccompanied by a true spirit of love which has the divine right to give. It greatly mitigate for me the humiliation of the of the one-sidedness of such boon when I know you and other Englishmen of your type whose chivalrous humanity is working towards reconstruction of society on a universal basis of co-operation, which is the only sure basis of peace and progress."
The report of Sadler Commission was published in 9th July, 1919 in 5 volumes. The sympathetic portion of this report appeared as praiseworthy to Rabindranath. While publishing the report of reform of administration by Mont-Ford , Sadler was an witness. The British Govt. wanted to keep the higher education within his control Sadler expressed his opinion against this and said it should be a provincial subject. This statement was appreciated by Rabindranath.
Rabindranath wrote it more critically to the Dutch poet fredrick Von Aden the last portion of the letter written to Sadler . Aden was of same opinion with Rabindranath on the issue of heartless civilisation of Europe;
"We have realised with a cruel sense of despair as to what a great calamity Europe has brought upon the rest of the world. She is using all her resources of science to make permanent the insult of humanity outside her own boundaries. And because her wisdom is the wisdom of science and not of soul, she overlooks that supreme truth that humanity is one, and all deeds of outrage offered to it and habit of insolence cultivated against it are sure to come back upon herself. Lately a gift has come to us from England in the shape of Reform bill carrying the promise of Self Government to to a certain extent. But a bill is no gift unless a heart is there - and so long as our psychology remains unchanged all boons will turn into curses, giving rise to hypocrisy and encouraging the left hand to steal from what the right hand has given. "
A few days earlier Dr. Aden wrote to Rabindranath on 20 Dec 1919;
" we all in Europe noticed with the greatest interest your refusal of the title "sir", because of the atrocities in the Punjab.We appreciated it as a good and worthy action , and the impression in England. was very strong."
