World Problems And Jain Ethics

Author(s): Beni Prasad
Publisher: Beni Prasad

Page 12

of intellectual, moral and material resources. The weight of armaments seems at first sight to crush public opinion into an irrelevance; but the totalitarian character of modern war really enhances the importance of public support and explains the assiduity with which the organised might of governments seeks to manufacture assent through psychologised propaganda at present. So, it has well been said that truth is the first casuality in war.
Compulsory primary education ranked as the most solid achievement to the credit of the 19th century. But its gains seem to have been more than counterbalanced by the propaganda with which the atmosphere is literally charged today and which can be picked up by radio machine anywhere on land or sea or air. Nor is the situation radically different in the home politics of States. Standards of veracity are proverbially low in elections and touch lower depths in the intrigues that surround courts and bureaucracies.
Here again the way of truth is as straight as that of non-violence. There is a proverb that truth conquers (RTH Freya ). It is true if it means that truth or sincerity prevails in the long run. But it is misleading if it is held to signify that truthfulness in word, thought and deed is an easy road to success. Today the path of sincerity is strewn with throns. It is beset with opposition, persecution and suffering. It demands courage, fortitude and stoical endurance.