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FRAGMENTS OF A PRISONER'S DIARY
beings, and regard reverentially the biological process of propagation among the so-called lower animals. And among men, you shall find the ideal realised precisely in those who do not swear by the Gita, and condemn the philosophy of Nishkam karma as a hypocritical cant, and expose the scriptural injunction to do your duty without any expectation of reward.
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Notwithstanding the fact that, in the biological process of procreation, the male plays a relatively insignificant role, human society, ever since it became 'civilised", has conferred upon the father the supreme power over the earthly life of the progeny. Modern "Western" civilisation, so heartily hated, though furtively coveted, by all orthodox Indian patriots, has deprived the father of much of his power over the children to whose appearance in this world he contributes so very little. Yet, civil law places children, until they attain majority, under paternal power. In backward countries, like India, society still groans under paternal absolutism. Patriarchal tradition, incorporated in the vamping, but venerable system of joint family, fetters individualism, the acceptance of which principle of social philosophy is the ideological condition for (capitalist) economic prosperity coveted by all nationalists including also those who anachronistically idealise feudal-patriarchal social conditions.
The father's power over children is acquired
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