JAT-PAT-TODAK MANDAL OF LAHORE-XIII
The effect of
caste on the ethics of the Hindus is simply deplorable. Caste has killed public
spirit. Caste has destroyed the sense of public charity. Caste has made public
opinion impossible. A Hindu's public is his caste. His responsibility is only
to his caste. His loyalty is restricted only to his caste. Virtue has become
caste-ridden and morality has become, caste-bound. There is no sympathy to the
deserving. There is no appreciation of the meritorious. There is no charity to
the needy. Suffering as such calls for no response. There is charity but it
begins with the caste and ends with the caste. There is sympathy but not for men of other caste. Would a Hindu
acknowledge and follow the leadership of a great and good man? The case of a
Mahatma apart, the answer must be that he will follow a leader if he is a man
of his caste. A Brahmin will follow a leader only if he is a Brahmin, a
Kayastha if he is a Kayastha and so on. The capacity to appreciate merits in a
man apart from his caste does not exist in a Hindu. There is appreciation of
virtue but only when the man is a fellow caste-man. The whole morality is as
bad as tribal morality. My caste-man, right or wrong; my caste-man, good or
bad. It is not a case of standing by virtue and not standing by vice. It is a
case of standing or not standing by the caste. Have not Hindus committed
treason against their country in the interests of their caste?
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