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THE MEMOIRS OF A CAT
willed as befits a normal cat. As a matter of fact, for reasons to be stated by and by, I am more cynical, distrustful and indifferent than the average member of my race, and I delight in my perversity. But once I have assumed the role of an altruistic truth-teller, I am going to discharge it with grim determination.
The next problem I have to solve is regarding the most effective way of performing my mission. As regards the mission itself, I, of course, take it for granted. How often have I heard that India has a mission to save the world! I, being also a part of India, may naturally claim a share in that mission, although I have not the slightest idea what it really is. But pondering over the riddle at leisure, which I have in plenty, I have hit upon a solution, quite satisfactory—to myself. Whatever may be the nature of India's mission, the Indians should first of all equip themselves to perform it. I believe that I should be performing my inalienable share of India's world mission, if I reminded the chosen people of God of the fundamental teaching of their philosophy, namely, “Know Thyself”. This is not exactly the Indian scriptural text. I am afraid, it has a Hellenic flavour. But I have heard it said most authoritatively that the old Grecks themselves learned from India whatever little they knew. In any case, to stress the point that one must know oneself in order to ascertain if he is fit for the mission given
