Literary Training

LITERARY training is necessary. One must know reading and writing. But it is not all. It is not an end but only a means. How does it matter if one has under-standing but no knowledge of letters ? Many great teachers and reformers of the world did not have a knowledge of letters. Christ and Mohammed did not have it. The Boer President Kruger''s knowledge of reading and writing was so little that he could sign his name with difficulty. It was the same with the former Amir of Afghanistan. But they had each an almost unlimited power of understanding.

One might say, however, that I am speaking of extraordinary men. That is true. But it does prove that it is not impossible to do without the knowledge of letters. Even to-day quite a large part of the world's population is illiterate, but it is not without the power of understanding.

— Navajivan : Jan. 15, 1922