1. Necessity of Birth Control
There can be no two opinions about the necessity of birth control. But the only method handed down from ages past is self-control or Brahmacharya. It is an infallible sovereign remedy doing good to those who practise it. And medical men will earn the gratitude of mankind if, instead of devising artificial means of birth control, they will find out the means of self-control. The union is meant not for pleasure, but for bringing forth progeny. And union is a crime when the desire for progeny is absent.
Artificial method are like putting a premium upon vice. They make man and woman reckless. And respectability that is being given to the methods must hasten the dissolution of the restraints that public opinion puts upon one. Adoption of artificial methods must result in imbecility and nervous prostration. The remedy will be found to be worse than the disease. It is wrong and immoral to seek to escape the consequences of one's acts. It is good for a person who overeats to have an ache and a fast. It is bad for him to indulge his appetite and then escape the consequences by taking tonics or other medicine. It is still worse for a person to indulge in his animal passions and escape the consequences of his acts. Nature is relentless and will have full revenge for any such violation of her laws. Moral results can only be produced by moral restraints. All other restraints defeat the very purpose for which they are intended.
Is Indulgence a Necessity of Life?
The reasoning underlying the use of artificial methods is that indulgence is a necessity of life. Nothing can be more fallacious. Let those, who are eager to see the births regulated, explore the lawful means devised by the ancients and try to find out how they can be revived. An enormous amount of spade-work lies in front of them. Early marriages are a fruitful source of adding to the population. The present mode of life has also a great deal to do with the evil of unchecked procreation. If these causes are investigated and dealt with, society will be morally elevated. If they are ignored by impatient zealots and if artificial methods become the order of the day, nothing but moral degradation can be the result. A society that has already become enervated through a variety of causes, will become still further enervated by the adoption of artificial methods.
Those men, therefore, who are light-heartedly advocating artificial methods cannot do better than study the subject afresh, stay their injurious activity and popularize Brahmacharya both for the married and the unmarried. That is the only noble and straight method of birth control.
—Young India : March 12, 1925
2. Self-Control
I venture to claim that by judicious treatment it is possible to observe self-control without much difficulty. Indeed, it is a claim put forth not merely by me, but German and other Nature cure practitioners. The latter teach that water treatment or earth compresses and a non-heating and chiefly fruitarian diet soothes the nervous system and brings animal passions under easy subjection, whilst it, at the same time, invigorates the system. The same result is claimed by Raja Yogis for scientifically regulated Pranayama without reference to the higher practices. Neither the Western nor the ancient Indian treatment is intended for the Sanyasi, but essentially for the householder. If it is contended that birth control is necessary for the nation because of over-population, I dispute the proposition. It has never been proved. In my opinion, by a proper land system, better agriculture and a supplementary industry this country is capable of supporting twice as many people as there are in it to-day.
Need of a Systematic Propaganda
I do suggest that men must cease to indulge their animal passions after the need for progeny has ceased. The remedy of self-control can be made popular and effective. It has never had a trial with the educated class. That class has not yet, thanks to the joint family system, felt the pressure. Those that have, have not given a thought to the moral issues involved in the question. Save for stray lectures on Brahmacharya, no systematic propaganda has been carried on for advocating self-control for the definite purpose of limiting progeny. On the contrary, the superstition of a large family being an auspicious thing and, therefore, desirable, still persists. Religious teachers do not generally teach that restriction of progeny, in given circumstances, is as much a religious obligation as procreation may be under certain other circumstances.
Insult to the Fair Sex
I am afraid that advocates of birth control take it for granted that indulgence in animal passion is a necessity of life and in itself a desirable thing. The solicitude shown for the fair sex is most pathetic. In my opinion, it is an insult to the fair sex to put up her case in support of birth control by artificial methods. As it is, man has sufficiently degraded her for his lust, and artificial methods, no matter how well-meaning the advocates may be, will still further degrade her. I know that there are modern women who advocate these methods. But I have little doubt that the vast majority of women will reject them as inconsistent with their dignity. If man means well by her, let him exercise control over himself. It is not she who tempts. In reality, man being the aggressor is the real culprit and the tempter.
Evil Consequences
I urge the advocates of artificial methods to consider the consequences. Any large use of the methods is likely to result in the dissolution of the marriage bond and in free love. If a man may indulge in animal passion for sake of it, what is he to do whilst he is,