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THE JAINA GAZETTE
The most important of these factors, culled from his speeches and writings, are briefly the following:
(1) The primary wants (those for food, clothing and shelter) of every human being in the world must be satisfied (Young India, 1928, p. 381); without the satisfaction of the primary wants man can possibly make any spiritual
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progress.
(2) The satisfaction of needs other than those for food, clothing and shelter will hamper spiritual progress, and hence is not necessary.
(3) Every person should produce his own food and clothing (Young India, 1924-26, p. 1001.)
(4) Every home, every village and every country should, as far as possible, be self-supporting (economically independent).
(5) Food and clothing should cease to become articles of commerce.
These (food and clothing) should be freely available to all as God's air and water are, or ought to be; they should not be made a vehicle of traffic for the exploitation of others. Their monopolisation by any country, nation or group of persons would be unjust. The neglect of this simple principle is the cause of the destitution that we witness to-day, not only in this unhappy land, but other parts of the world too." Young India, 1928, p. 281.
(6) Large scale industries, if they at all exist, should be nationalised,
(7) Some machineries may be tolerated, only if certain conditions are satisfied; the rejection of all machineries should, however, be kept in view as the ultimate ideal.
(8) Trade in wine, opium, etc., is to be prohibited.
(9) The movement of population from one country to another is not desirable.
(10) It may not be possible to totally remove all inequalities in respect of wealth; the relations between the rich and the poor should be those of 'perfect friendship.' The rich shall not try to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
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