Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/459

 we have come out of the compulsion stage as the rule of life, to make education compulsory seems to me to be fraught with many dangers. The experience gained by the Baroda Government may help us in considering this subject. The results of my examin- ation of the Baroda system have been so far unfavour- able. But no weight can be attached to them as my examination was wholly superficial, I take it for grant- ed that the delegates assembled here, will be able to throw helpful light on the subject.

It is certain that the golden way to remove the de- fects enumerated by me is not through petitioning. Great changes are not suddenly made by Governments. Such enterprises are possible only by the initiative of the leaders of a nation. Under the British Constitution voluntary national effort has a recognised place. Ages will pass away before we achieve our aims, if we depended solely upon Government initiative. As in England so in India, we have to lead the way for the Government by making experiments ourselves. Those who detect short-comings in our educational system can make the Government remove them by themselves making experiments and showing the way. Numerous private institutions should be established in order to bring about such a consummation. There is one big obstacle in our path. We are enamoured of * degrees.' The very life seems to hang upon passing an exami- nation and pbtaimng a degree. It sucks the nation's life-blood. We forget that ' degrees ' are required only by candidates for Government service. But Government service is not a foundation for national life. We see, moreover, that wealth can be acquired without Govern- Educated men can. by their enternrise.

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