Personally, I do not expect either the Health Bureaucrats nor the Health Minister to take any other attitude than what they have done. With tears in her eyes the Health Minister has complained that she is not being given enough money for all her fanciful ideas. Like the late lamented empress, Marie Antoinette, she will give her people nothing if she cannot give them fruit cake made by the most fashionable confectioner in London or at least Delhi. But our masses are used to plain bread and not cakes and do not expect cakes or confetti but just something simple.
What then are we to do? Obviously we shall have to turn to the final arbiters of our destiny and the destiny of our country – the people. Let us put our plans before our people; let us show them that Chinese practice has proved our contentions as justified, let us ignore this Government and its bureaucrats and realise that much of our own failure has been due to our lack of unity. I am painfully aghast at the disunity not only among the Homoeopaths, but in the so – called progressive forces in this country. To my sorrow, it seems to be a characteristic of the progressive forces in this country to have more schisms and divisions in their ranks than the reactionary forces in this country. This applies also to political parties.
The reactionary forces are at least realistic. They know they are fighting for their own survival. We so – called progressive are still in the realms of ideological idealism. Theories and ideologies have no value for me unless they are related to practicability. Correct politics is to see the reality and to adapt ideologies to practical realities. Obviously it does not lie in our power today to either reform our bureaucracy or to eliminate them. When I asked a Chinese statesman how the Chinese reformed their bureaucracy he replied, “We did not reform our bureaucracy, we eliminated them”.
Obviously just at present neither you nor I have the power to do so. But their is just one possibility. Our ruling class might open their eyes and, instead of becoming rubber stamps to their bureaucracy, start doing some hard thinking and instruct their bureaucracy to either carry out policies given to them or get out. Ah, but that, my friends, is just wishful thinking on our part.
I believe, that the only road open to us is to convince the people. We have to become the brokers of ideas today between the people and the Government, and the greater our success in convincing the people, the greater will be our success in forcing the Government; for no Government however powerful it be, can carry out a policy for long, that neither enlists the co – operation of the people, nor shows adequate results. And if the present government does show results, our question is, at what cost? Any idiot can draw up a magnificent plan going into thousands of crores.
Genius lies in achieving that same objective and results at one fifth of the coast. J.B. Grant, one of the wisest foreigners I have had the privilege of meeting here in India, has laid down that India, and Asia in general, must strive to achieve at the coast of one rupee that which wealthier countries get at the cost of seven rupees. Well, tell that to our Government and our Planners and ask them to show us the way if they can. Take it from me, despite Sri Jawaharlals boundless enthusiasm, I have studied the plan and cannot share it with him. Enthusiasm is a good thing but you must know what to enthuse over. One cannot have the same enthusiasm after ginger – pop as after Champagne. But I must not say that. This is supposed to be a dry country – very dry.
So, having said all that I had to say, I realise that I have taken a great deal of your time. There is a homely saying of Aristotle that “the guest will judge better of a feast than the cook”. I unfortunately happen to be the cook and judgment is yours.
Finally, before taking leave of you, I feel I must tell you that very likely the coming two years may turn out to be the most crucial epoch in Indias future shape of things to come. We shall therefore have to go on fighting, continually watching how to improve our own approach to the vital problems of India, not only regarding public health, but also all other aspects pertaining to the welfare of the masses, always be willing to accept our own mistakes, and like my late revered father, one of the wisest and most scientific physicians I have had the privilege to work under, never be afraid to revise a mistaken diagnosis. That is how we learn.
I thank you all for the patient hearing you have given me and as far as shall be able to in the future, allow me to serve you and our cause as best as I can.
HOMOEOPATHS REMEMBER FOUNDER
Yesterday Homoeopaths in Ceylon gathered at the G.O.H. to celebrate the second centenary of the founder of Homoeopathy, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann at a luncheon held by the Homoeopathic Association of Ceylon.
The chief guest at the centenary lunch was DR. P.M. Banerjee, Chairman of the Homoeopathic Commission.
Dr. C.V.S. Corea, President of the Homoeopathic Association of Ceylon who presided over the celebrations, expressed the hope that the Homoeopathic medical system would be established in Ceylon as soon as possible.
Dr. M.E. Lukmani (Homoeopath) and Mr. Livv Wijemanne, Secretary of the Homoeopathic Association of Ceylon also addressed the gathering.
