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Religion, Practice and Science of Non-Violence
There are social restrictions and traditions against violence. All the religions of the world propagate non-violence. There are organizations devoted to lead men through non-violent means. Non-violent resistance and satyagraha endeavour to secure social justice for the individual or the society through one's own suffering rather than that of the opponent.
All these measures have succeeded, to an extent, in curbing the violence of the individual as well as the group of individuals. All these need to be encouraged and propagated further. They are the mile-stones in our efforts to curb down violence.
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But they in themselves are not enough in today's fast-moving world crowded with people and their problems, wherein each day pours in more and more struggles and tensions for everybody.
In our present-day world, if we wish to live and let live, we need to have a greater hold on our violent tempers and tendencies. We adults have to realize this and act accordingly.
Through our own example, we need to teach and to demonstrate the value of tolerance and non-violence to our children-the coming generation which is bound to witness even more struggle and tensions. And here while I do not, in any case, underrate the value of home environments in producing more tolerant children, I wish to lay more stress on teaching the same in the schools.
I feel convinced that this is the time when we should start teaching tolerance and non-violence as one of the subjects in our schools, all over the world. There should be curricula and books on the subject with regular theory and practical examinations, and assessment, as we have for some of the other subjects.
There should be research institutions in every country which should devise better ways and means of teaching and propagation of tolerance and non-violence.
Since his birth, man has faced heavy odd-created by nature or himself. Through his own efforts, he has overcome them and has even flourished.
There is all the reason to hope that he will overcome his excessive aggression and violence-his own creation-through his own means.
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