Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/400

 310 EARLIER INDIAN SPEECHES

on the face of the earth, there is one condition indispens- able namely, qualifications, and proper qualifications, on the part f those who want to render social service or any other service. So we shall ask ourselves this evening whether those of us who are already engaged in this kind of service and others who have aspired to render the service possess these necessary qualifications. Because you will agree with me that in social service if they can mend.mattens they can -also spoil matters and in trying to do service however well-intentioned that service might be, ft they are not qualified for that service they will be rendering not service but disservice. What are these qualifications ?

Imagine why I must repeat to you almost the quali- fications that I described this morning to the students in the Young Mens' Christian Association 'Hall. Be- cause they are of universal application and they are necessary for any class of work, much more so in social service at this time of the day in our national life in our dear country. It seems to me that we require truth in one hand and fearlessness in the other hand. Unless we carry the torchlight we -shall not see the step in front of us and unless we carry the quality of fearlessness we shall not be able to give the message that we might want to give. Unless we have this fearlessness I feel sure that when that supreme final test comes we shall be found wanting. Then I ask you to ask yourselves whether those of you who are engaged in this service and those of you who want hereafter to be engaged in this service have these two qualities. Let me remind you also that 'these ^qualities may be trained in us in a manner detrimental to ourselves and in a manner detri- mental to those with whom we may come in contact.

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