Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/592

 502 NON-CO-OPERATION

was, in this case, a ( Satyagrahi. 7 Prahlad disregarded the orders of his father because he considered them to be re- pugnant to his conscience. He uncomplainingly and cheer- fully bore the tortures to which he was subjected at the instance of his father. Mirabai, who is said to have offended her husband by following her own conscience, was content to live in separation from him and bore with quiet dignity and resignation all the injuries that are said to have been done to her in order to bend her to her husband's will. Both Prahlad and Mirabai practised "Satyagraha." It must be remembered, that neither Daniel nor Socrates, neither Prahlad nor Mirabai had any ill-will to-wards their prose- cutors, Daniel and Socrates are regarded as having been tnodel citizens of the States to which they belonged, Prahlad a model son, Mirabai a model wife.

This doctiine of 'Satyagraha' is not new ; it is merely an extension cf the rule of domestic life to the political. Family disputes and differences are generally settled according to the law of love. The injured member has so much regard for the others that he suffers injury for the sake of his principles without retaliating and without being angry with those who differ from him. And as repression of anger self-suffering are difficult processes, he does not dignify trifles into principles, but, in all non-essentials, readily agrees with the rest of the family, and thus contrives to gain the maximum ot peace for himself without disturbing that of the others. Thus his action, whether he resists or resigns, is always calculated to promote the common welfare of the family. It is this law of love which, silently but surely, governs the family for the most part throughout the civilized world.

I feel that nations cannot be one in reality nor can their activities be conducive to the common good of t-he

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