THUS SPAKE MAHATMA GANDHI

 

 

 

 

THUS SPAKE MAHATMA GANDHI

                    (2.10.1869-30.1.1948)

 

ON SEX EDUCATION: The sex-education, that I stand for, must have for its object the conquest and sublimation of the sex passion.  Such education should automatically serve to bring home to children the essential distinction between man and brute, to make them realize that it is man’s privilege and pride to be gifted with the faculties of head and heart both, that he is a thinking no less than a feeling animal, and to renounce the sovereignty of reason over the blind instincts is, therefore, to renounce a man’s estate. (Harijan, 21.11.1936).

 

As about the children’s curiosity about the facts of life, we should tell them if we know, and admit our ignorance if we do not.  If it is something that must not be told, we should check them and ask them not to put such questions even to any one else.  We must never put them off. (The Diary of Mahadev Desai).

 

Children know more things than we imagine.  If they do not know and if we refuse to tell them, they try to acquire the knowledge in a questionable manner.  But if it has to be withheld from them, we must take such risk.  If they ask us about the sexual act, we must not tell them.  (The Diary of Mahadev Desai).

 

If children watch the berhaviour of birds, and want to know I should tell them and take the opportunity to teach them a lesson in Brhmacharya (chastity).  I would emphasise the distinction between men and beasts or birds.  If men and women behave like beasts, they are only beasts in human shape.  This is not vituperation but a bare statement of facts. We are endowed with human shape and reason in order that we may subdue the beast within.  (The Diary of Mahadev Desai).

 

Boys and girls cannot remain innocent for all time, no matter how hard we try.  Therefore, it is advisable to tell them the facts of life at a certain age.  If this knowledge leads any of them to misbehave themselves, we must not mind.  As a matter of fact, such knowledge ought to strengthen ones will to chastity.  That is my own experience, at any rate.  (The Diary of Mahadev Desai).

 

Some acquire this knowledge to feed the animal passion; others come to know in the natural course of things; still others equip themselves with information in order to control passion and help others to do so.  This knowledge may be imparted only by those who are fit to do it.  (The Diary of Mahadev Desai).

 

SEX URGE. Today, our entire environment – our reading, our thinking, our social behaviour  - is generally calculated to subserve and cater for the sex urge.  To break through its coils is no easy task.  But it is a task worthy of our highest endeavour.  (Harijan, 21.11.1936).

 

Sex urge is a fine and noble thing.  There is nothing to be ashamed of it.  But it is meant only for the act of creation.  Any other use of it is a sin against God and humanity.  (Harijan, 28.3.1936).

 

God has blessed man with seed that has the highest potency and woman with a field richer than the richest earth to be found anywhere on this globe.  Surely, it is criminal folly for man to allow his most precious possession to run to waste.  He must guard it with a care greater than he will bestow upon the richest pearls in his possession.  And so is a woman guilty of criminal folly who will receive the seed in her life-producing field with the deliberate intention of letting it run to waste.  Both he and she will be judged guilty of misuse of the talents given to them, and they will be dispossessed of what they have been given. (Harijan, 28.3.1936). Courtesy: The Encyclopedia of Gandhian Thoughts published by AICC (I), New Delhi.