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FRAGMENTS OF A PRISONERS DIARY
spokesmen of the Indian society. They are opposed to the present Government; but they approve of the principle of law in Courts. The principle is coercion for the maintenance of the social status quo.
Opponents of any radical measure maintain that the rural masses themselves are largely responsible for their indebtedness. The most oft repeated argument is that they get into deep waters owing to the habit of spending beyond their means in ceremonials such as marriage etc. In the first place, though the charge is not altogether groundless, it ignores the fundamental fact of the economic condition of the toiling masses either deliberately or through naive disregard for realities. The fact is that such a large portion of the peasants' net income is taken away from them, in one form or another, as does not leave them, in the great majority of cases, nearly sufficient for bare existence. Practically the entire bulk of the peasantry is always short of working capital, and is obliged to borrow it. This fundamental fact of the situation not only exposes the bankruptcy of the peasant masses, but vitiates the whole system of national economy. It is so very evident that to-day none dare deny it. There are, of course, all sorts of explanations; but the fact remains, not to be explained away. The disease eats into the vitals of the entire social structure, and cannot be cured by quackery, whether preached
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