Page:The Modern Review (July-December 1925).pdf/763

Rh direct result. Not a single human being who observes the elementary principles of sanitation need suffer from hookworm. The disease is not even due to poverty. The only reason is gross ignorance of the first principles of sanitation.

These reflections arise from the abominations I saw in Mandvi. The people of Mandvi are not poor. They cannot be classed as ignorant. And yet their habits are dirty beyond description. Men and women dirty the streets that they walk on with bare feet. They do this every morning. There is practically no such thing as a closet in that port. It was with the greatest difficulty that I was able to pass through these streets.

Let me not be hard on the poor inhabitants of Mandvi. I know that I saw nothing better in many Streets of Madras. The sight of grown-up people lining the river banks and after the performance proceeding with criminal thoughtlessness to the river and cleaning themselves in it and injecting into its sacred water typhoid, cholera and dysentery germs has not yet faded from memory. This is the water that is used also for drinking. In the Punjab we violate God’s laws by dirtying our roofs and breeding millions of flies. In Bengal the same tank quenches the thirst of man and beast and cleanses him and his pots. But I must not continue this description of our shame. Seeing that it is there, it would be sinful to hide it. But I dare not carry it any further. I know I have underdrawn the picture.

Sir P.C. Ray once observed: “Science can wait, Swaraj cannot.” Whatever other sciences can wait, sanitation, which depends on the knowledge and application of many sciences, cannot. That seems to be implied when Mr. Gandhi observes:—

"Let us not put off everything till Swaraj is attained and thus put off Swaraj itself. Swaraj can be had only by brave and clean people. Whilst the Government has to answer for a lot, I know that the British officers are not responsible for our insanitation. Indeed, if we give them free scope in this matter, they would improve our habits at the point of the sword. They do not do so, because it does not pay. But they would gladly welcome and encourage any effort towards improved sanitation. In this matter Europe has much to teach us. We quote with pride a few texts from Manu or, if we are Musulmans, from the Quran. We do not carry even these into practice. Europeans have deduced an elaborate code of sanitation from the principles laid down in these books. Let us learn these from them and adapt them to our needs and habits."

The Guardian writes :— cholera and dysentery germs has not yet Mr. T. Johnston, M, P., who is now in Calcutta faded from memory. This is the water that is used labour conditions in the jute mills also for drinking. In the Punjab we violate God’s investigating been heard to express surprise .at the fa .t taat laws by dirtying our roofs and breeding millions has weeks, 150,000 workmen in Bomba r have of flies. In Bengal the same tank quenches the for eight on strike and neither the leaders ror the thirst of man and beast and cleanses him and his been at large seem to be agitated about it That pots. But I must not continue this description of country a remarkable fact which-will go much iga.nst our shame. Seeing that it is there, it would be is political parties before the bar of pmlic sinful to hide it. But I dare not carry it any Indian opinion. It will certainly cool down any ardour further. I know I have underdrawn the picture. which the most generous labour leaders in England Sir P. C. Ray once observed: “ Science might have for India. It may be admitted hat can wait, Swaraj cannot. ” Whatever other Government has proved adamant to importunity every quarter in this matter ; but in i oli ical sciences can wait, sanitation, which depends from work the political parties do not recognise the on the knowledge and application of many invincibility of Government. An equally determined sciences, cannot. That seems to be implied effort on their part would have shaken the complacency of the miliowners and the Govern­ when Mr. Gandhi observes:— ment alike. It is humiliating to think the t these Let us not put off everything till Swaraj is eight weeks of distress and starvation among a attained and thus put off Swaraj itself. Swaraj can lakh and a half of millw orkers have synchron.sed be had only by brave and clean people. Whilst with one of the most futile periods of T-oli ical the Government has to answer for a lot, I know squabbles among party leaders that have been that the British officers are not responsible for our witnessed in recent years- If the parties had raid insanitation. Indeed, if we give them free scope a little more heed to the cry of the laboure s, hey iff this matter, they would improve our habits at would have been nearer unity than by ali Lie talk the point of the sword. They do not do so, because that has taken place the past few days. it does not pay. But. they would gladly welcome and encourage any effort towards improved sanita­ tion. In this matter Europe has much to teach “ The Catholic Herald of India'’ us. _ We quote with pride a few texts from Manu or. if we are Musulmans, from the Quran. We do The disappearance of The Catholic He-al l of not carry even these into practice. Europeans have deduced an elaborate code of sanitation from India from the field of Indian journalism is the principles laid down in these books. Let us much to be regretted. It was a frend of learn these fr<nn them and adapt them to our needs political freedom and advocated the aaeLora­ and habits. tion of the condition of the poor, irrespective of race, creed and caste, and was noted for its * humour and brilliant style. Passing of Queen Alexandra. Since the days when in 1863, on the occasion of her coming to England from her royal father’s home in Denmark after her marriage, Tennyson wrote, “••• Saxon or Dane or Norman we Teuton or Celt, or whatever we be, We are each all Dane in our welcome of thee, Alexandra! ”

For Future Biographers of Tagore “Ex pede Herculem” js a Latiu preverb which means literally, “From the fcot you may judge of Hercules”; or, in other words, “from this sample you can judge of the whole”. It is used to suggest that even from

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