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344
NONVIOLENCE
or body are goaded by passion, the layman's acts in the discharge of his duties cannot, it may be argued, be deemed as Himsa or Violence. As the world consists of wicked people and mischief-mongers as well as kind and peace-loving people, there are occasions when non-violence may have to be tempered with the defensive use of violence.
It is inevitable, therefore, that a state have a police force for the maintenance of law and order. Similarly, to protect a nation and to guard its freedom from the onslaughts and aggressive attacks of enemy nations and the imperialistic designs of world power, it is necessary to maintain its defences through efficient military forces. It should be remembered that a nation must always endeavor to settle disputes, disagreements and other problems in the first place by non-violent means if possible. However, when it finds that negotiations and persuasion fail, there may be no other alternative than to use force in such contingencies.
It may be argued that resistance to evil with force is not only inevitable but becomes a duty in such contigencies. If a country is attacked by an enemy, is not its government duty-bound to resist invasion, to fight battles in which many may be wounded and killed, property damaged and the general peace endangered? The government of a country, in spite of its belief in Ahimsa, may have to perform such acts; and the same are within the permissible limits of Ahimsā, as long as the motive is national defence. However, there is no justification in using force in the furthering
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