Evil Customs in U.P. - Mahatma Gandhi

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Senior Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09404955338, 09415777229

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Evil Customs in U.P. - Mahatma Gandhi

 

If get the chance I shall certainly study these questions and write about them. It is indeed a pity if, as the correspondent states, the students in U.P. are keener on marraige than the students elsewhere and a lot of money is wasted on the marriage ceremonies. But there is no need in this matter to compare U.P. with any other province. What does it matter if such evil customs are more or less in U.P. than in other provinces? It is the duty of every sensible man to try and do away with evil customs as such. It is improper and against religion to entangle students in the web of marriage. Our religion teaches us that one, who does not observe brahmacharya as a student, does not have the right to enter life as a householder. Likewise one who cannot run a household should not enter into matrimony. The grahasthashrama is not meant for indulgence and the gratification of the senses.

A householder can have intercourse with his own wife with proper restraints if he desires an issue. Intercourse for its own sake has been condemned not only in Hinduism but in all religions. If it is true that a great number of students in U.P. are married, then I have discovered the cause of an unhappy experience of mine. Propagation of Hindi throughout India is a special duty of U.P. When I mentioned teaching Hindi in the South I had hoped that many unmarried young men of good character, capable of sacrifice and well versed in the national language would be coming forward for this work. But readers will be sorry to know that U.P. was not much of a help in this work.

Due to the scarcity of workers, the work of teaching the national language in other provinces, such as Bengal, Sind, Utkal, etc., had not progressed much. The reason for this is not lack of funds but lack of good workers. The extravagant expenditure incurred during marriage is also a matter of regret. Everywhere those who have money spend lavishly, in an attempt to make a show of their wealth, and misled the poor. In this matter also the students should pledge themselves not to let their parents spend too much money on weddings. I have met the friend who has written the letter. He reminds me of Jamnalalji’s example and asked me to put the same before the students and their parents. On the occasion of his daughter Kamala’s wedding Jamnalalji spent hardly Rs.200. He gave no community dinner. He just invited a few friends to bless the couple. The ceremony was limited to the performance of the religious rites.

There was absolutely no ostentation. Both the bride and bridegroom wore simple khadi dresses. It is the duty of every rich man to curb his vanity on such occasions and save the society from harm. The third question is about the purdah. I have already written a lot about this evil custom. It causes harm in every way. It has been proved by experience that instead of protecting the women, the purdah causes them great mental and physical harm. What can I write about the landlords? I do not think anyone of that class reads Hindi Navajivan. But since I believe that our human nature impels us towards nobility I hope the landlords will follow the example of the samurai of Japan and living a life of simplicity and dedication, work for public welfare. But this is a mere hope. It cannot be realized by my simply mentioning it in Hindi Navajivan.

  Reference:

Hindi Navajivan, 12-9-1929