All forms of labour are valuable and should be respected. This is the essential meaning of the phrase ‘dignity of labour.’ Jobs involving manual labour should not be looked down upon. One has a right to dislike them and not to take to them if they really do not suit one’s temperament, but that is no reason why they and the people who earn an honest living by doing them should he held in contempt. Nor should one fight shy of doing manual work on account of a false sense of prestige. It should be realised that all forms of labour contribute to the welfare of society.
Many educated men in India do not appreciate and practise the principle of the dignity of labour. They prefer white – collar jobs to other kinds of work involving manual labour, even though the latter are more easily available and more lucrative. For example, an Arts graduate who is the son of a prosperous farmer would like to be a clerk in a city bank rather than follow his father’s profession. In spite of the fact that there is more demand for turners, fitters, and technicians, our young men continue to qualify themselves for sedentary posts which are limited in number. The tendency to avoid manual labour is also noticeable in the domestic sphere. It is supposed to be infra dig for the lady of the house to do domestic chores like washing clothes or scrubbing Pots. The ‘in’ thing is to employ servants to do such work. In large cities where servants are scarce and demand exorbitant wages, many middle
They have crossed the North American continent, from New York to San Francisco, between dawn and dusk; flown over the North Pole; and encircled the world. They have travelled well over 500 miles an hour, climbed 13,000 feet higher than Mt. Everest and remained over two weeks continuously in the air. This development has been so rapid that today the aeroplane takes its place beside the railway train and the ship as a regular means of transporting passengers, mails and cargoes. Great air routes now traverse the continents and seas in all directions.
The aeroplane is doing very good work in surveying countries. Aerial photographs pieced together form a complete map of the region surveyed. Aerial photographs are taken from a height of 36,000 feet. Then, again, the aeroplane is: most useful in exploring regions difficult or impossible to traverse on foot. It has penetrated the north lands of Canada, the forest regions of Amazon and the icy wastes of the polar districts. As a speedy harbinger of relief it is unequalled. We have heard of its dropping food on ice-bound ships and snow-bound villages, whirling patients to hospital for treatment, hurrying with food and medicine to areas ravaged by war, disease, floods, and famine. It is doing great service to forestry and agriculture. In the timber regions of America and Canada patrol aeroplanes roving the skies send prompt news of any outbreak of fire and prevent disastrous conflagrations. Other machines equipped with special apparatus, flit up and down over plantations, cotton fields and locust-infested areas, scattering chemical dust deadly to insects. In Siberia, aeroplanes are even used for hunting and slaughtering wolf-packs when they become a menace.
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A review of the Indo-Pak war makes it clear that our defence forces have excelled themselves beyond our expectations. All the three branches have had their share in the victory, but the Air Force has been outstanding in its efforts. It demonstrates the superiority of mastery over the air.
Our Air Force at the time we achieved our freedom was very insignificant, but today it has acquired superiority that every Indian can be proud of. The fitness of our aircraft and the heroic bravery of our airmen have enabled us to acquire a high standard of aerial warfare and hold our enemy at bay.
It is because of mastery over the air that nations like the U.S.A. and U. S. S. R. wield much power and influence. They possess a large fleet of airships, some of them nuclear-powered, with a terrific speed and wide bombing range. In years to come our nation too will vie with the Big Powers in securing mastery over the air, not with the idea of destroying but in conformity with the famous saying of a famous general, Bismark: if you want peace, be prepared for war.