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| Integral Humanism |
INTEGRAL HUMANISM - CHAPTER 3 |
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the second world war then Hitler attacked France, the French army
could not stall the onward march of Nazi troops. The then Prime
Minister of France. Marshall Petain decided to surrender. The French
public supported the decision, but De Gaulle escaped to London where
he declared that he did not accept the surrender. France is
independent and will remain so. From London, he formed a Government
of France in Exile and eventually liberated France. Now if the
majority rule is to be considered supreme, then De Gaulle's action
will have to be condemned. He had no right to fight in the name of
independence. De Gaulle derived his right from the fact that the
French nation was above the majority public opinion. The national
Dharma is above all. Independence is Dharma of every nation. To
preserve independence, and to strive for regaining it when lost is
the duty of every citizens
Even in our country a majority had not risen against the Britishers; only a few had. Some revolutionaries arose, some brave people arose and fought. Lokmanya declared "Freedom is my Birth right". He did not declare this birthright with the support of a majority or by a referendum from the public. Now a days people advocate that the merger of Goa should be decided by referendum, that there should be plebiscite in Kashmir etc., etc. This is wrong. National unity is our Dharma. Decision concerning this cannot be made by plebiscite. This type of a decision has already been taken by the nature. Elections and majority can decide as to who will form the government. The truth cannot be decided by the majority. What the government will do will be decided by Dharma. You all know that in the USA where
they swear by democracy, at one time Lincoln did not accept wrong
public opinion. On the question of the abolition of slavery when the
southern states declared their intention to secede. Lincoln stood
firm and told them: "You have no right to secede even in a
democracy". He fought against this and did not allow them to
secede. Nor did he tolerate slavery. He did not show readiness for a
compromise whereby there may continue partial slavery to accommodate
southern states. He did not accept the principle of meeting halfway.
He categorically declared that the system of slavery was against
tradition, the Dharma, the principle which were at the basis of
American nation. Therefore the system of slavery had to be
abolished. When the Southerners decided to secede he told them
"You cannot secede". On this point there was a civil war
and Lincoln did not compromise with Adharma. |
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