Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/918

 F828! MISCELLANEOUS Hinduism as of every great religion are unchangeable, and easily understood. Every Hindu believes in God and his oneness. in rebirth and salvation. But that which distinguishes Hinduism from every other religion is its cow protection, more than its Vcrnashram, is, in my opinion, inherent in human nature, and Hinduism has simply reduced it to a science. It does attach to birth. A man cannot change his vanm by choice. Not to abide by one’s varna is to disregard the law of heredity. The division, however, into innumerable castes is an unwarranted liberty taken with the doctrine. The four divisions are all-suliticing. I do not believe that inter-dining or even inter- marriage necessarily deprives a man of his statue that his birth has given him. The four divisions define a man’s calling, they do not restrict or regulate social intercourse. The divisions define duties, they confer no privileges. It is, I hold, against the genius of Hinduism to arrogate to oneself a higher status or assign to another a lower. All are born to serve Gad’s creation, a Brahman with his knowledge, a Kshatriya with his power of protection, a Vaishya with his commercial ability and a Sbudra with bodily labour. This however does not mean that a Brahman for instance is abeolved from bodily labour or the duty of protecting himself and others. His birth makes a Brahman predominantly a man of knowledge, the Gttest by heredity and training to impart it to others. There is nothing, again, to prevent the Shudra from acquiring all the knowledge he wishes. Only, he will best serve with his body and need not envy others their special qualities for service. But a Brahman who claims superiority by right of knowledge falls and thas no knowledge. And so with the others who pride