Story name_
Swadeshi Samaj
Our country is mainly a rural land. When, from time to time, there arises in the veins of these villages a desire to feel the pulse of the larger world beyond, then the fair (mela) becomes its chief means. Through fairs, the outside world enters the home of our country.On such occasions the villagers' minds open up — it becomes a major opportunity for giving and receiving warmth of heart. Just as the rainy season fills ponds with water from the sky, in the same way fairs provide the right occasion to fill the hearts of villages with the currents of the wider world.These fairs are very natural to our country. If you call people to a meeting on some topic, they may not come because they do not feel the urge; but at the call of a fair they gather easily and gladly — therefore the fair is the true time when the mind of the country can be reached. If educated people, leaving aside pride and distance, come close to them on these occasions, they will gain their confidence.There is hardly any district in Bengal where fairs are not held at different times of the year. It is our duty to collect lists and descriptions of these fairs. Through them we may find the best opportunity to become truly acquainted with the people of the country.If the educated members of every district take new initiatives to organise these fairs, and if they show respect and sympathy to the people, then through these gatherings they may create unity between communities. They can also use these occasions to discuss practical matters — such as schools, roads, health, agriculture, and local needs — and thus gradually awaken the country.
I believe that if throughout Bengal people take responsibility for organising fairs in many places, they can arrange journeys, music, physical exercise, and various activities without forcing villagers to spend money. If local authorities provide space and allow shopkeepers to sell goods freely, the whole arrangement can become beneficial. After meeting expenses, any surplus could be used for the welfare of the locality.Through this, the hearts of people across the country will become closely connected, and the country will awaken in many ways — the amount of work that can be achieved through this cannot be measured.In our country, festivals once helped to distribute literature, knowledge, and religious instruction among people. But nowadays, because of many reasons, most of these activities have become confined to towns. Village people often only watch performances or entertainments, while the deeper joy and education do not reach them.
If through fairs we can once again spread the stream of literature, knowledge, and shared happiness to the villages, then the inner strength of Bengal will not be lost day by day.
We must remember that the large public gatherings that once brought vitality to our society are not themselves harmful — what harms us is neglect. Many fairs have declined not because they are useless, but because they have been mismanaged. If we do not revive them, we will be guilty before our country and our social duty.
Foreign charity may give us temporary relief or education, but our real responsibility is this: shall we not learn to heal our own society with our own efforts?
This is not a matter of words alone; it is a matter of action. The responsibility of society is something we must each accept daily — that is our pride, our duty. The time has come to build a strong indigenous society. The time has come to let everyone know that I am not alone — even if I am small, no one can deprive me of my place, nor can I abandon it.
It may be said that the wealth of individual hearts alone cannot fill such a vast space. By our own personal efforts we may remove only a small portion of suffering — but to overcome the whole condition we need organisation. We cannot carry the country like a burden on our shoulders; we must work through organised means. Since we lack such organisation, we must learn it, even from abroad if necessary, and adopt modern methods and institutions; otherwise our work cannot proceed.
Organisation is not undesirable; it is necessary. But if we forget that the country is not merely mechanical, everything will fail. Even if we arrange institutions, the country will not move forward unless we truly feel with our hearts. Where we do not feel the living connection of human sympathy, no structure can inspire the whole nation. Therefore, if we wish to bring success in any work, we must remember this truth.
We want to realise the country in the form of a living person — someone who will represent the whole society. By gathering around such a figure we shall build and serve our greater national society. Through our connection with that person, our connection with every individual in society will be maintained.
For this purpose we need a leader of society — one who will stand above yet remain closely connected with all. Though he will have authority, he will essentially be the servant of society.
Near each of us there will be the presence of this unity of society. If he calls, we shall respond; if he guides, we shall act; and if difficulties arise, we shall seek his direction. At present, most people do not know clearly what their social duty is. Therefore, to bring individual efforts onto a definite path, a central focus is necessary.
No faction within society should try to occupy that central place. In our country many groups appear at the beginning with enthusiasm but cannot sustain results. The main reason is that we fail to preserve unity within ourselves. Without such inner unity, no effort can achieve lasting success.
Our society cannot continue as before. Powerful forces from outside have already penetrated every sphere — from schools to markets — shaping everything. If we want to stand firm against these forces, we must consciously organise ourselves. The only way is to recognise a central authority in society — not as domination, but as a collective expression of our own strength and freedom.
Such a social leader may sometimes be right, sometimes wrong; but if society remains awake, no individual can permanently dominate it. Rather, this recognition of leadership itself will be a way to awaken society. When society realises itself as a living unity, its strength will naturally arise.
Under this system, different regions of the country will appoint different responsible persons. They will oversee welfare, organisation, and administration, and will remain accountable to the central social authority.Every member of society, according to ability, will dedicate something for the country. Likewise, every household will treat service to society as a natural duty. When organised in this way, poverty will diminish. In our country large charitable endowments exist; can we not voluntarily create our own social institutions? Especially when education spreads widely, the sense of duty will surely grow.
For the formation and working of our indigenous society, at the same time we shall be able to appoint a social head and organise social authority — we shall be able to realise the country in the form of a living person and, by accepting his guidance, render true service to the Swadeshi society.
Authority must be concentrated in a particular centre; that centre must be visible and accessible; and from that centre a system must exist to carry out all necessary work. We must discuss clearly what is needed. For reasons of convenience or self-interest we have allowed Bengal to remain divided — and thus we ourselves have weakened it.
If dangers arise within the country, is there no arrangement within society to resist them? Disease is best prevented from entering the body, but if it does enter, the body must have the strength to overcome it and restore health. Similarly, if we keep social strength awake and organised, external forces will not be able to overpower us. To organise all people, to unite them, and to awaken their intelligence — that is the task.
In our country, at times, small incidents create tensions between Hindus and Muslims. If there is no recognised social authority to remove such conflicts, to establish harmony, and to protect the rights of both sides, then society gradually weakens under repeated shocks.
Therefore, we must place our society under the shelter of a trusted leader and bring it into a living unity. Without such organisation and discipline, there is no other way to save ourselves from weakness and decline.
___ Lija Jafrin