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FRAGMENTS OF A PRISONER S DL3RY
It is not my duty to perform acts that I have never undertaken to do. The concepts of duty and responsibility presuppose agreement. In the absence of previous agreement, there is neither duty nor responsibility. So, the question of discipline under the relation cstablished by Hindu marriage does not arise.
We are told pontifically that society would break up if men and women forgot the sacredness of marriage and talked of it in loose terms. Well, it is a well known fact that men generally seldom abide by the sacred vow'; yet, society has not fallen to pieces. But the foundation of society would be shaken, if women expressed dissatisfaction at the treatment accorded to them. So, the bond of sacrcdness is only for them; and it is not very sacred, though it is certainly a bond. The taboo on "talk in loose terms" means prohibition of the criticism of an established relation which has become galling
-utterly incompatible with changeul social relations, and intolerable for women growing up under these conditions. Women should not even complain. For them, it is indecent to have any grievance. They must remain fascinated by the fictitious idcals placed before them. The laws laid down by Manu ages ago are still immutable.
But what about men? Why is disciplinc not nearly so rigorous in their case? Why are they not held to the sacred vow of marriage? Simply, because the scriptures do not demand of them the
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