By Acharya Tulsee

Self-restraint: A Healthy Basis of Family Planning

Q.    There is a lot of talk about family planning in the country these days. Is family planning necessary? If yes, why?

A.    It is a national and social issue one talks of spiritual planning. Being a social and national issue it has no universal but a utilitarian dimension. Depending on the needs of a country at a particular time, a certain issue comes to receive special emphasis. Since the country's population is increasing, there is a stress on family planning here. But there are also underpopulated countries where parents are rewarded for giving birth to children. Therefore it is difficult to give a decisive reply to a social question.
        The question family planning becomes relevant when people outnumber the goods and facilities available. It creates economic deprivation and to remove it family planning is thought of. When individual survival is at stake, a small family becomes imperative, though even today if all the available land is brought under cultivation, food deficiency can be got over. It is not for us to interfere with people's right to family planning, should they resort to it under compelling circumstances. But why is it necessary to use only artificial means for the purpose?
 
Q:    Is there an alternative to the artificial means of family planning?

A:    From the spiritual point of view self-restraint is the best means but it requires long spiritual practice to develop self-restraint. We are living in a scientific age. Science has opened many new possibilities for man. Today, thanks to science, people have got rid of many serious diseases and have brought down the mortality rate and at the same time added to the span of life. If science can achieve all this, can it not create means capable of controlling and refining man's passions?
      On psychological grounds, it is said that there is a direct relation between reduced intake of protein and higher fertility. Then why should scientists not think of something other than artificial means of contraception? Can new ways not be found out?
        According to the prevalent social norms a girl's marriage is held compulsory. Even when she is unwilling , she is forced into marriage under parental pressure. Why is greater insistence brought to bear on a girl's than a boy's marriage? There are innumerable girls who want to lead a life of self-restraint and spiritual practice. If they are allowed to lead such a life, both society and the nation will benefit. Indirectly it will also have a demographic impact.
 
It is doubtful whether the family planning movement as being carried on the country will yield positive results. It is often heard that the Muslims and christians are opposed to it. Any control not capable of being universally applied is illogical. In such cases no single section of community can be compelled to enforce it. If family planning is a genuine problem, it cannot be handled sectionally.

Q: The Leo Matt and Shantilal Shah Comittee has its report on family planning in India recommended that abortion be made legal in India. The central government is thinking of adopting the recommendation and passing the necessary legislation about it. What do you think about it?

A: We come across references suggesting that in olden times also methods of contraception were prevalent, but it was done as a mark of hostility. abortions also took place, but they were treated as heinous crimes. To this day the Indian psyche has the same image of abortion. Even as it is man lacks self-control; he will become more unbridled if law lend him support. Some countries have declared abortions legal. However, one shivers to hear about what is actually happening there. One of the American doctors gave the following statement : ' I have carried out about twenty-five thousand abortions in my life. I wonder what would happen to a country where such heinous crimes are committed.' Those who recommend that abortion be made legal view only one side of the problem; they will never dare to recommend it if they make psychological study of the mental conditions of those who get abortion done or who carry it out.

        Foeticide is a serious as manslaughter. If killing a two-year-old child is wrong, how can killing the foetous in the womb be not wrong ? The government banned the customs of sati and human sacrifice simply because they involved killing of human beings. How can then killing of the human beings in the womb be legalized?

        In an atmosphere of wanton lustfulness, the absence of self-restraint is increasing. It is beyond imagination what new depths lack of control would touch if abortion were made legal. it will therefore be far more proper to look at the issue of legality of abortion from the point of view of self-control, and keeping in mind its attendant dangers.    

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