Jain Dharma ka Maulik Itihas Part 4

SR No.: 002074
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hastimal Maharaj
Publisher: Jain Itihas Samiti Jaipur
Publication Year: 1995
Total Pages: 880
Language: Hindi
Classification: Book_Devnagari & History
File Size: 16 MB

Page 226

सामान्य श्रुतधर काल खण्ड २ ]
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२०७
ग्राम का वातावरण पारस्परिक कलह-क्लेश से अछूता नहीं रहा और सामूहिक सद्भाव, सामूहिक सत्प्रयास के दर्शन तक भारत में दुर्लभ हो गये । इस प्रकार की कलहपूर्ण-विद्वेषजन्य सार्वत्रिक स्थिति के फलस्वरूप महती महनीया आर्यधरा के अभ्युदयोत्थान के द्वार एक प्रकार से अवरुद्ध और अधःपतन के द्वार दशों दिशाओं में खुले हो गये।
भारतवासियों एवं भारतीय राजाओं के अधःपतन के उपरिवणित कारणों पर प्रकाश डालते हुए साम्प्रतयुगीन लब्धप्रतिष्ठ इतिहासकार आर. सी. मजूमदार À The History and Culture of the Indian People—The Struggle for Empire (Part V) Cause of Collepses of Hindu Ruleशीर्षक के अन्तर्गत लिखा है :
Subject to these natural limitations we may refer to some of the causes of the downfall of the Hindus that appear probable in the light of the available data. The foremost among these seem to be the iniquitous system of caste and absence of contact with the outside world. The first reşulted in a fragmentation of Indian society into mutually exclusive classes, among whom the privileged minority preserved theirvested interests by depriving the masses of many civic rights, specially of education and of free intercourse and association on equal terms with their fellowmen, and further, by imposing on them the most irritating disabilities on the one hand, and a tremendous weight of innumerable duties and obligations towards the privileged classes on the other. And this evil led to another. It bred among the leaders of the Indian people a vain pride in isolationism and insularity and that attitude of arrogance which has been noticed by Al-Biruni. “The Hindus”, says he, "believe that there is no country but theirs, no king like theirs, no science like theirs........ If they travelled and mixed with other nations they would have soon changed their mind."
Al-Biruni also remarks that “their ancestors were not so narrow-minded as the present generation.” This spirit of exclusive superiority was created and maintained by a process of intellectual fraud, in as much as almost the entire