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SACRED DUTY A SCREAM of terror startled the young writer trudging along the path. A Harijan girl-an outcaste—was bitten on the toe by a cobra. He rushed to her, looked around for something to tie round her foot to check the venom from circulating through the bloodstream.
Failing to find anything, he ripped open his penknife and quickly snapped the holy thread he wore as a Brahmin, and tied it tightly round her foot. Next he lanced the wound letting the poisoned blood flow out freely. The girl was saved from an untimely death.
The incident was soon rumoured through the town and the orthodox were shocked. A cry of sacrilege rang through their meeting. Could anything be more irreverent than the holy thread being tied around the foot of an untouchable? The writer was summoned to their meeting.
“Your name:" thundered the headman.
“Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi,” replied the youth with the greatest composure.
“And now, may I ask you a couple of questions :" he continued. "Is this thread holy or unholy?"
“Of course it's holy," was the prompt rejoinder.
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