Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/401

 This is a dangerous statement almost to make, as if truth could be ever so handled, and in making that statement I would like you also to consider that truth comes not as truth but only as truth so-called. In the inimitable book Ramayana we find that Indrajit and Lakshman, his opponent, possessed the same qualities. But Laksh- man's life was guided by principle, based upon religion while Indrajit's principle was based upon irreligion, and we find what Indarajit possessed was mere dross and what Lakshman possessed was of great assistance not only to the side on whose behalf he was fighting but he has left a treasure for us to value. What ,was that additional quality he possessed? So, I hold that life without religion is life without principle, that life with- out principle is like a ship without a rudder. Just as our ship without rudder, the helmsman plying at it, is tossed about from place to place and never reaches its destination, 20 will a man without the heart-grar-p of religion whirl without ever reaching his destined goal. So, I suggest to every social scrvnnt that he must not run away with the idea that he will serve his whole countrymen unless he has got these two qualities duly sanctified by religion and by a life divinely guided.

After paying a glowing tribute to the Madras Social Service League for its work in certain Pariah villages in the city he went on to say :

It is no use white-washing those needs which we know everyday stare us in the face. It is not enough that we clear out the villages which are occupied by our Pariah brethern. They are amenable to reason and persuasion. Shall we have to say that the so-called higher classes are not equally amenable to reason and to persuasion and to- hygienic laws which are indispensable

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