In English
Children have to learn the lesson of self-reliance
of children live as beggars in the streets. It is the responsibility of the grownups to wean them away and enable them to become self-reliant, self-respecting citizens. Older people are like .old trees; they cannot be bent in the direction which is good for them. But, these tender saplings can be trained to grow straight and strong. So, I wish to declare that the first duty of every adult, son and daughter of this country is to pay loving attention to the children. I call-upon you to resolve to establish a primary school and arrange for medical care for every village. Wealth is intended not for adding luxury to life, for revelling in sensual joy. Through good sanitation and good education you can improve the condition of the children. If it is your intention to raise India, once again, into an example and ideal for the rest of the world, it can be achieved only by hard physical work and by systematic reduction of desires. In the sacred land of where , the Goddess designated as food, is worshipped, there need be no shortage of food for the people. Controlling population is not the right remedy. For, consider this: Every child is born not only with a stomach that has to be catered to, it is also endowed with two hands which can work and produce the food for the stomach. The hands have to be given the strength and skill; they have to learn the lesson of selfreliance. They should never be lazy or slothful. Then, there can be no deficiency in food and no problem of underfeeding.