03. Vital Need for Research |
The unlimited capacity of the plant world to sustain man at his highest
is a region yet unexplored by modern medical science which through force
of habit pins its faith on the shambles or at least milk and its
by-products. It is a duty which awaits discharge by Indian Medical men
whose tradition is vegetarian. The fast developing researches about
vitamins and the possibility of getting the most important of them
directly from the sun bid fair to revolutionize many of the accepted
theories and beliefs propounded by medical science about food.
Young India, 18-7-1929
I have found after prolonged experiment and observation that there is no
fixed dietetic rule for all constitutions. All that the wisest
physicians claim for their advice is that it is likely to benefit in a
given case as in a majority of cases they have found it to answer fairly
well. In no branch of science is the scientist so hampered in his
research as in the medical. He dare not speak with certainly of the
effect of a single drug or food or of the reactions of human bodies. It
is and will always remain empirical. The popular saying that one man’s
food may be another’s poison is based on vast experience which finds
daily verification. Such being the case, the field for experiment on the
part of intelligent men and women is limitless. Laymen ought to acquire
a workable knowledge of the body which plays such an important part in
the evolution of the soul within. And yet about nothing are we so
woefully negligent or ignorant as in regard to our bodies. Instead of
using the body as a temple of God we use it as a vehicle for indulgence,
and are not ashamed to run medical men for help in our effort to
increase them and abuse the earthly tabernacle.
Young India, 8-8-1929
Take up any modern textbook on food or vitamins, and you would find in
it a strong recommendation to take a few edible green leaves uncooked at
every meal. Of course, these should always be well washed half a dozen
times to remove all dirt. These leaves are to be had in every village
for the trouble of picking. And yet greens are supposed to be only a
delicacy of cities. Villagers in many parts of India live on dal
and rice or roti, and plenty of chilies, which harm the system.
Since the economic reorganization of villages has been commenced with
food reform, it is necessary to find out the simplest and cheapest foods
that would enable villagers to regain lost health. The addition of green
leaves to their meals will enable villagers to avoid many diseases from
which they are now suffering. The villagers’ food is deficient in
vitamins; many of them can be supplied by fresh green leaves.
That, of course, means elaborate research and examination in detail of the nourishing properties of the innumerable leaves that are to be found hidden among the grasses that grow wild in India. Harijan, 15-2-1935
|