Aristotle, it was who said that man is a thinking animal—and
it has been proved beyond doubt, by man's words and
deeds, more by the latter, that while he performs the
function of the animal with a gusto, the former function—that
of thinking, is not much relished by him; he needs all
the coaxing. The Modern age, none need point out, depends
more upon thinking and that correctly and at the proper
time, for its very existence—for there seems to be a
sort of mad rush of events, causing a sort of confusion.
Hence the need for thinking becomes the utmost necessity
today—for any and all aspects of life. Not that one
argues, that for ages past, thought played no important
part in man's affair—but the point to be remembered
is, today, the mass cannot allocate the function of
thinking to the Thinkers! All should bestow their thought
on almost all affairs, for in the modern age there is
much more inter-dependence in society than what was
to be found in ages past. Man is a thinking animal,
said the ancient philosopher, possibly with the hope
of curbing out as much of the animal in him as was possible.
News papers, of whatever dimension or description, offer
their service, in this field and art of thinking—by
presenting facts, that persuade people to think—place
before the public the thoughts of those whom we may
conveniently term as worthies so that the public can
have a comparative study about the purpose and process
of thinking—for only when mankind succeeds to a remarkable
degree in this art of thinking can it hope to better
its position and the world which it inhabits.
It is exactly because we do not arrogate to ourselves
the place of a 'Thinker' that we are placing 'Homeland'
before the public,—we are thinking aloud and along with
millions of men and women, who today are being forced
to eat the pudding prepared for them by others, from
unwholesome stuff. We think aloud because that seems
to be the best way of making others think for themselves.
Tutoring creates a dullness, which will naturally lead
to slavishness, and sluggishness—the baneful effects
of which the world today witnesses. We do not take upon
ourselves—we refuse to be that much impudent—the task
of contributing some remarkable, unique standard in
this already rich field of journalism—there are many
'elders' who do wield the pen with a mighty force and
have earned a well deserved tribute, here and elsewhere.
We are here to think aloud and thereby, help in the
healthy growth of the process of thinking.
Burke who was all ablaze when the Americans raised the
standard of revolt against England—thundered forth 'taxation
without representation is an immoral un-English deed'—Yet
when in France an oppressed people, steeped in misery,
soaked in tyranny, and beaten to smitherns by poverty—rose
in revolt against the power-gluttons who sat on the
gilded seats, at Paris—wept copiously, warned the English
and the world—and condemned the 'rabble' as he termed
an enraged people—and all from his safe seat at London.
Burke, we daresay is a symptom to be found in all ages
and climes and we find here today, those who were loud
in their condemnation of everything imperialistic real
or fake—who announced to the world with a power that
made the alien shudder in their shoes, that no government
is as good as our own government—these Burkes who had
enough heroism in them to plead for the annihilation
of the alien rule, today raise their brows in derision,
and lament that some thoughtless people are taking the
wrong road—talking about fantastic theories—demanding
impossibilities—and demagoguing dangerous propaganda.
And this is because the animal instinct—the Jungle law—gets
hold of the Man.
Coleridge wrote hence, "as there is much beast
and some devil in man, so there is some angel and some
God in him. The beast and the devil may be conquered
but in this life never wholly destroyed." But it
is for this purpose of annihilating or at any rate keeping
under control this animal instinct, that attempts are
being made from time to time, by not only 'seers and
saints' but in a more practical way, by also those who
take upon themselves the task of maintaining the democratic
way of life. And the democratic way of life should have
as its bedrock, wholesome thinking, individually, so
that when a collective action is taken, it would be,
not a regimentation' but, an amalgamation of ideas.
'Homeland' hopes to contribute, in its own humble way,
something towards this end. And hence, we are emboldened
to request the readers, to forgive the very many 'short-comings'
in the get-up of the journal, and offer, their unstinted
support, for a noble cause.
(Editorial - 27-10-1957)