Daily News & Analysis
Freedom is the great gift of philosophy.All people desire freedom of thought, of writing and of speech. No one wants to live in bondage. The word, 'Raja' (meaning king, monarch or prince) had become a subject of history and lexicology.
Likewise, the word 'naukar' (meaning servant) is gradually becoming obsolete, a thing of the past.It means that we are moving towards greater freedom and greater absolutism, in the sense that each man takes pride in acting on his own. That the link of relativity should stand snapped is no great matter; nor is it to be regretted if the hierarchical order is abolished; nor is the absence of government or outside rule objectionable, provided it gives way to self-rule.
A self-disciplined person is not subjectto any rule; nor is he free from it. "He alone is proficient who is neither fettered nor unfettered".
Wherever we look around, we find that there is envy, there is the desire to denigrate and push the other person down, and there is great intolerance. Why does it happen so in a society where everything is related to everything else?
That is a most pertinent question. The communist ideal is a society free from the trammels of administration. But what does actually happen there? Every man seeks security for himself and the downfall of his opponent.On the one hand, we have the ideal of a free society; on the other hand, we have the conflict of self-interests.
What is this, if not complete separation of philosophy from life? A man takes it for granted that what really matters are his own advancements, that he alone should be prominent and powerful.This individualistic mentality hinders social relations.
However, with the development of self-discipline, a man, while remaining an individual, does not grow to be anti-social.It is due to non-comprehension of the limitations of selfthat an individual allows himself to be imposed upon by another.