Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/476

 386 EARLIER INDIAN SPEECHES

Hindu dairies of Calcutta, which subject them to cer- tain indescribable practices and make them yield the last drop of milk. In Gujarat Hindu drivers use spiked sticks to goad bullocks into action. We say nothing about it. The bullocks of our cities are to be seen in a pitiable condition. Indeed, protection of the cow and her progeny is a very great problem. With us it has de- generated into a pretext for quarrelling with the Maho- oiedans, and we have thus contributed to a further slaughter of cow s. It is not religion, but want of it, to kill aMahomedan brother who declines to part with his cow. I feel sure that if we were to negotiate with our Mussalman brothers upon a basis of love, they will appreciate the peculiar condition of India and readily co-operate with us in the protection of cows. By cour- tesy and even by S.Uyagraha we can engage them in that mission. But in order to be able to do this, we shall have to understand the question in its true bear- ing. We shall have to prepare rather to die than to kill. 13ut we shall be able to do this only when we understand the real value of the cow and have pure love for her. Many ends will be automatically served in achieving this one end. Hindus and Mahomedans- will live in peace, milk and its products will be avail- able in a pure condition ajid will be cheaper than now, and our bullocks will become the envy of the world. By real tapasya it is possible for us to stop cow slaughter whether by the English, Mahomedans or Hindus. This- one act will bring Swaraj many a step nearer.

Many of the foregoing problems belong to Munici- pal Government. We can, therefore, clearly see that National Government is dependent upon purity of the government of our cities.

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