THE VISVA-BHARATI QUARTERLY
It is the struggle for human decency, for the avoidance of
physical strife which restricts human life, for a world with-
out wars. Among the fighters in this great struggle, Gandhi
was in the front rank. His message is not a matter for
academic debate in intellectual circles. It is the answer to
the cry of exasperated mankind which is at the cross-roads,
which shall prevail, the law of the jungle or the law of love?
All our world organizations will prove ineffective if the
truth that love is stronger than hate does not inspite them.
The world does not become one simply because we can
go round it in less than three days. However far or fast
we may travel, our minds do not get nearer to our neigh-
bours! The oneness of the world can only be the oneness
of our purposes and aspirations. A united world can only
be the material counterpart of a spiritual affinity* Mechani-
cal makeshifts and external structures by themselves cannot
achieve the spiritual results. Changes in the social architec-
ture do not alter the minds of peoples. Wars have their
origins in false values, in ignorance, in intolerance. Wrong
leadership has brought the world to its present misery.
Throughout the world there seems to be a black-out of
civilized values. Great nations bomb one another's cities
in order to obtain the victory. The moral consequences
of the use of the atom bomb may prove to be far more
disastrous than the bomb itself. The fault is not in our
stars but in ourselves. Institutions are of little avail unless
we are trained to obey our conscience and develop brotherly
love. Unless the leaders of the world discover their highest
human dignity in themselves, not in the offices they hold,
in the depth of their own souls, in the freedom of their
conscience, there is no hope for the ordered peace of a
world-community, Gandhi had the faith that the world is
one in its deepest roots and highest aspirations. He knew
that the purpose of historical humanity was to develop a
world-civilization, a world-culture, a world-community,
We can get out of the misery of this world only by exposing
the darkness which is strongly entrenched in men's hearts
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