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FRAGMENTS OF A PRISONER S DIARY
of adultery is derived from the notion that the plexige of fidelity is sacred. The moral condemnation of adultery logically provides the justification for divorce, which nevertheless is such a pet ilomination of the Indian moralists.
When a man, for some reason or other, wishes to have a second wife, the obviously ethical thing for him to do is lo absolve the first wifi of ihe plaulge of fidelity which he hinself proposes to withdraw from Inis side. The prohibition of divorce is disregard for tỉis very clementary sense of morality and justice. Why should the woman rcmain bound to the man, when he is no longer faithful to her even formally? Which the pledge of fidelity is not cqually binding for both the partics concerned, marriage evidently is not a coinpanionship, but subordination of the woman to the man. In Hindu marriage, the pledge is admittedly not mutually binding. The man is entitled to commit adultery. But a sin is a sin, even when it is commitice with religious sanction. In that case, it is rcligion which is exposed as an immoral system. Hinduisin condemns adultery as a moral offence, but permits it when committed according to religious laws! A man can break his pledge of fidclity to the married mate with the sanction of religion. If he wishes to commit adultery, he has simply to marry the object of his lust ; and he is entirely free to do so. Is not the pledge of fidelity a mockery? 140
