Good order and discipline are the very life-breath of civilized life. What is a world of difference is there between a disciplined unit of army and mob. Now discipline is of two kinds; one is imposed from outside and the other comes from within. It was this latter discipline that feeds and is fed by democracy. The discipline in a dictatorship is a steel-frame into which every body has to fit himself. There’s not to reason why. In democracy, however, it is the people that rules.

The British are the most democratic people in the world. Their democratic experiment started in the 13th century. The democratic spirit, therefore, has been infused in their very sow and this has made them a discipline is the most evidence in time of war. During the Second World War when bombes were raining on London the English had steeled himself to go about his job, unperturbed by what was happening. When rationing was introduced every English man accepted it with full sense of responsibility and discipline. No one, however highly placed he was, would abuse his position to obtain more than was his due. This is a sign of maturity, prudence, self discipline.

We Indians have to go along way before we can call ourselves disciplined in this sense. The story of or rationing system makes very sordid reading. Profiteering and block-marketing are so rampant. In time emergency, when the enemy was knocking at our gates, our businessmen concealed their stocks of kerosene oil and petrol. When shall we learn to be disciplined sons of the soil? Our present democracy is only skin-deep. Hope! We should throw indiscipline things and proud to be a Indian.