Mahavira Jain Vidyalaya Rajat Jayanti Mahotsava

Author(s): Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya Mumbai
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Page 194

H. H. DALAL
(M. J. VIDYALAYA
This is but an outward manifestation, a visible sign of the innate love of the people for Orderliness and Discipline.
Compare this picture with the picture here in India. A crowd of people hustling and jostling, pushing forward and backward, some elbowing their neighbours, some trying to dodge the others in front to secure a place forward and still more forward, some excitedly shouting at others to save themselves from being crushed. Such a crowd must be an experience of every one of us. This is a common sight wherever you go where public gathers. At the booking window of a Cinerna house or a theatre or of a railway station you can never fail to see this crowd, a seething mass of people scrambling for tickets.
It is painful to observe, that this one trait which has contributed largely to the greatness and glory of England is conspicuous by its absence amongst us, the people of India. I do not say its absence is owing to any inherent defect in the nature and constitution of our people. Discipline is, I believe, always a matter of training. Want of proper training has developed into a sort of habit. Whatever may be the cause, want of it is very disastrous.
At this very critical juncture in the life of Nations, all the parties in England, Labour, Liberals, Conservatives or Socialists, one and all, sinking all their differences, have stood as one man determined to fight the Enemy. And how do we behave? Some are creating differences and dissensions where there were none, some are accentuating those existing, some gape their mouths at what the future is going to bring, some not knowing what to do, stand unconcerned. At this very valuable moment of our life, why are we not united, why do we stand unconcerned, why are we despondent? The only answer I can give is “ We are not disciplined."
Look back into the history of India of a few centuries past and you will find that the want of Discipline is the chief cause of the downfall of our great nation, once at the summit of civilisation, full of splendour and glory, the envy and the admiration of the whole world. This our miserable existence, without courage, without strength, without unity, full of despondency, meekly bearing the burden of our slavery, will continue so long as want of Discipline will continue
Discipline every one of us knows but does not practise. What is Discipline ? Discipline is a mental attitude of an individual to do a thing according to a rule, according to a plan. It means respect for the rule of Law. It means love of Orderliness. It prevents dissipation of energy. It brings all our powers, all our strength to bear in a concerted way, on the desired object.