Dr.
RajendraPrasads Suggestions on Constructive Programme of Gandhi (abstract)
The thirteen fold constructive
programme, which Gandhiji placed before us in Harijan of 18th
August 1940 and which he has again stressed in his recent pamphlet entitled Constructive
Programme, Its Meaning and Place, demands detailed instructions so that
workers may know how to give effect to it. I trust the following ways and means
that I am venturing to place before them will provide some guidance.
I.
HINDU-MUSLIM OR COMMUNAL
UNITY
It may at once be admitted that the
present communal disunity is due to mutual distrust and suspicion. It has so
vitiated national life that suspicion of each other’s motives has crept into
spheres of religious performances, language, culture, mode of life, education,
economic freedom and political power – in fact, into every sphere of life.
Mutual trust will be automatically
established only if we renounce the use of force under all circumstances
enforcing what we consider our right or preventing the abuse of what the
opponent considers his right.
II.
THE REMOVAL OF
UNTOUCHABILITY
The worker has, first of all, to cast
out untouchability from his own life. He must free his mind of all sense of
high and low on account of birth or profession or calling. Help may, where
possible, be sought from legislation and law courts, and there will probably be
cases or occasions when sayagraha may have to be offered on behalf of
this section of suffering humanity. Equally important is the work of education
and reforming the Harijans themselves.
India has a large population of what are
known as Adibasis or aboriginals residing in different parts of the
country – concentrated largely in jungles and hilly tracts. They have been
neglected by us, and work of education and general uplift amongst them is
necessary. It has to be undertaken on a large scale and has to be more or less
on the same lines as that among the Harijans.
III.
PROHIBITION
The evils resulting from drink and drugs
need not be detailed here. Suffice it to say that the addict to these is not
only physically ruined but also becomes a moral degenerate.
Practical ways of weaning them from the
habit are to provide them with innocent drinks, to open clubs for them where
they may play games and indulge in healthful recreation, and generally to
befriend them during their leisure hours. No doubt such work will need funds
and can best be carried out by organizations, but the individual worker can do
a great deal if he visits the homes of the addicts and tries to win their
confidence
IV.
KHADI
Spinning and weaving not only supply
this need, not only solve the problem of clothing the villager but also make a
substantial addition to his slender resources. It has never been suggested that
those who can earn more in any other occupation should give up their work and
take to spinning. It is pre-eminently a supplementary industry.
As a matter of fact every agriculturist
should be persuaded to grow enough cotton to serve his personal requirements.
There is again hardly a locality where there are no weavers perishing for want
of employment. All this soil is ready for the worker to till and cultivate.
Faith, zeal, intelligence and efficiency in the art of khadi-making alone are
required for revolutionizing the entire face of village life.
V.
OTHER VILLAGE INDUSTRIES
It is the decay of handicraft in our
villages that has been the cause of their ruin and made agriculture itself
uninteresting and even unprofitable.
Cottage industries have died to a large extent. These
must be revived, if village India has to be resuscitated. Therefore as Gandhiji
has so poetically described it let khadi be the sun round which all the lesser
planets will revolve, and let all who wish to serve the villages use as far as
possible nothing but village products.
VI.
VILLAGE SANITATION
Village sanitation can be easily
improved, if the inhabitants are inspired with an intelligent understanding of
the dangers and ugliness of insanitation and insanitary habits.
Groups of young men and women can band
themselves into volunteer corps for educating the villagers in the matter of
sanitation. Workers must take a hand in scavenging themselves inasmuch as
personal example is the best means of propaganda.
VII.
NEW OR BASIC EDUCATION
Educationists
the world over have recognized the superior value of the method of education
through ‘doing’, imparting knowledge through handicrafts, and in India it has a
special value. Properly trained and enthusiastic men and women teachers are
wanted to make the scheme the success it deserves to be.
VIII. ADULT
EDUCATION
Adult education must
not, however, be confined to the knowledge of the ‘three Rs’. It must include a
great deal of other useful and essential general education.
Evening hour will be
the most suitable for holding classes for adult education
Co-operative effort is very effective. Once a
few adults have learnt how to read and write, a small library should be
established in which suitable literature may gradually be collected and a daily
newspaper provided.
An immense amount of
general knowledge can be imparted by word of mouth. The field of adult
education offers a grand opportunity for developing a sense of citizenship as
also for inculcating a sprit of corporate endeavour among the people. Both are
most essential factors in village reconstruction.
IX.
UPLIFT OF WOMEN
It is tragic that in our present-day
society women does not play the great part she is meant or entitled to play,
because of certain social customs and prejudices which have unfortunately
become, as it were, a tradition.
We have, therefore, to banish from our
hearts all ideas of the inferiority of women and give them their rightful place
of absolute equality.
In this as in all other constructive work
the worker has to begin reform in his own home. Only in this way will he be
able to change the outlook in this matter of those with whom he comes in
contact.
X.
EDUCATION IN HYGIENE AND
HEALTH
It is essential to emphasize the
necessity of keeping the body and mind in a fit condition. To this end regular
habits, a health-giving balanced diet, daily exercise, work, and above all a
life of self-restraint are needed.
XI.
PROPAGATION OF RASHTRA
BHASHA
National language (Rashtra Bhasha) should
be such can be easily understood and learnt by all.
It is this language- Hindustani- which has naturally been
recognized as our national language, and it is the duty of every worker to
acquire a good working knowledge of it.
XII.
CULTIVATING LOVE OF ONE’S
OWN LANGUAGE
It has been stated under the preceding
head that the cultivation of a national language is a necessity for national
purposes. But the cultivation of one’s mother tongue is equally necessary from
the point of view of one’s own growth, the preservation of one’s culture and as
a means of expressing one’s innermost thoughts.
There need be no conflict between the
provincial languages and the Rashtra Bhasha. Indeed they must progress
hand in hand, each fulfilling its own purpose and acting and reacting healthily
on the other.
XIII. WORKING
FOR ECONOMIC EQUALITY
If all, who can, pool their surplus
resources for the benefit of the masses, an immense beginning towards bringing in
an equitable order will have been made. But the chief thing for the monied men
is to limit their expenses so as to bring them on a level as far as possible
with what should be possible for a labourer in an ideal society.
We have dealt with the thirteen items of
the constructive programme which Gandhiji has specifically mentioned. There are
certain others which may also be considered. As these are more or less of an
organizational nature, they can be usefully employed for furthering the
thirteen fold programme.
XIV. CONGRESS
ORGANIZATION
Organizing
the masses for the struggle for freedom is constructive work of first class
importance. We have the general organization of the Congress. We may also
endeavour to organize the Kisans, labourers and students, for example.
The work of these organizations may overlap to some extent; but if they are
based on non-violence, conflict is impossible. And misunderstanding or
differences can easily be resolved without leaving any trace of bitterness.
XV.
LABOUR ORGANIZATION
Labour employed in factories is a group which has been
organized in Trade Unions.
There is no harm in organizing labour for the benefit of
labour, but they must not be exploited for political purposes.
While strikes are necessary if the
employer is unreasonable and unbending, they should be resorted to only in the
last instance when every other method for getting fair play and justice has
failed. The guidance and help of good workers among labour is very essential.
XVI. STUDENT
ORGANIZATION
A
students’ organization should, not be for the ventilation of the country’s
grievances and for enforcing redress thereof but for supplementing the
deficiencies in the education imparted in existing institutions. It should be
an organization calculated to make them efficient citizens and not for fighting
political battles. This does not imply that students have no part to play in
the freedom movement.
Devoted
workers are needed who can win the love and confidence of the student world and
bring into their ranks that discipline and unity which are so baldy lacking
today. Workers must be free from passion or prejudice and utterly unselfish.
They must not be liable to be carried away by gusts of passing enthusiasm or
depressed by the chill air of dejection. They must work with confidence and
faith and an understanding of youth.
Conclusion
Gandhiji’s
pamphlet on the constructive programme has shown clearly the close link between
it and the struggle for freedom. There is no Indian, whatever his school of
political thought, whatever his community, who does not desire complete freedom
for his country.
It
applies equally to men and women, young and old. Indeed a very great
contribution can be expected from women. Let me hope that it will enthuse all
and be worked with intelligence, energy, faith and vigour so that India may
come into her own at the earliest possible moment.
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