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FRAGMENTS OF A PRISONER'S DIARY
other aspects of the social problem. It will free the youth from handicaps imposed upon them by tradition and the established social and domestic customs. That freedom will enable them to see beyond the tip of their nose, so to say ; to take a broad view of the situation ; iu realise that their particular problems result from a general proble:n. They will have a greater fruciom of action, and that will me?! a great impetus for thc mobilisation of thc forces of social renaissance.
The practice of birth-control will relieve the youth of the burilen of domestic responsibilities which, incurred obligatorily, they simply cannot slischarge under the given conditions of the country. The young veople marry, and have children automatically. Why should they not avoid the responsibility which cannot be discharged, for no fault of theirs ? Why should thcy, as a matter of animal habit, sanctified by patriarchal social traditions, beget children they cannot provide for, cannot equip suitably for the struggle of life, cannot even guarantee the ininimum requirements for a normal physical growth? The alternative piny be not to marry; and celibacy is a laudable virtue in this country. But it is not generally practised simply because it cannot be.
The institution of marriage is primarily based upon the necessity of performing a fundamental biological function in an orderly manner, so to say. The opposite sexes naturally attract each other.
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