The Economy of Permanence: A Quest for a Social Order Based on Non-violence (स्थायी अर्थतन्त्र)

Economy of Permanence
We also noticed that today the world is under the heels of the large scale
manufacturer, who stands to gain by stifling the voice of the people and by
spreading an organization which will bring him profits either way. During peace
interludes he makes and sells bicycles, and, while war clouds darken the skies
he turns his attention to the manufacture of bombs and guns. To his dictates,
camouflaged by self-interest, the foolish public lay down gladly the lives of
their beloved to make this order possible. All this is directed towards isolating
the routine element of work with the discipline it involves, and securing only
the satisfaction and pleasure which labour well done brings with it.
Wholesome work provides our body with energy, health and rest just as a well
balanced diet does. It provides bodily exercise while affording, at the same
time, opportunities for mental development and satisfaction. The modern
tendency, however, is to avoid the discipline work involves, passing it all on to
one class of society which is helpless; reserving to the dominant class all the
pleasurable consequences of work. It is sought to distil out the component parts
of work to this end and then the bodily exercise alone in a pleasurable form,
without the drudgery part of work, is obtained in pill form in games like Golf,
Tennis, Cricket, Hockey, Football, etc. which are all naturally expensive
luxuries beyond the reach of the poor.
Truncating work in this manner is like the way they manage on ocean liners to
provide the muscles with the kind of movements they are accustomed to on
land in games and hobbies which for obvious reasons cannot be indulged in on a
boat. On such liners the gymnasiums are equipped with machines which provide
the substitutes for horse-riding, boating etc. The horseman bestrides a saddle
on a mechanical horse, holding the reins switches on the electric contraption
into a 'trot' or a 'gallop. The saddle gives the semblance of jerks one gets on a
horseback on land although here the rider has no live spirited animal under
him. Similarly, there are oars for the boating enthusiast to pull away at, seating
himself at a bench and kicking his feet on to a rest. The oars are provided with
springs to give the resistance of water. Here we have horse-riding and boating
bereft of the natural pleasures attendant on them on land-the scenery, the
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