GANDHI'S WALL
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Ste,—When France started to build her stupendous wall, commonly called the Maginot Line, those who knew their history books regarded the plan askance. For it would seem that a wall is the first nail in the coffin of a nation, or Empire, that by this means seeks to save itself. During the last five thousand years scores of these defensive walls have been built—but not one has succeeded in its object.
The mighty bulwark round Nineveh took three days to march round. When Alexander the Great went past the famous city of Genesis a few centuries later he had a job to find the site of it. The Babylonians built no fewer than seven walls for the protection of their capital city. The outside one was hundreds of feet high, and wide enough at the top for four-horse chariots to turn at the gallop. Lulled into a sense of false security by this amazing piece of work, they fell victim to the first invaders that came along. Ancient Egypt held its own until Seti started work on a mighty wall across the north-eastern corner of the country. It began at Pelusium and went right across the Isthmus. But it did not save the Egyptians. The wall was completed by Rameses II. It marked the end of palmy days of the Empire.
The Great Wall of China, built to keep out the Tartars, could not save China. The Roman wall between the Rhine and the Danube did not restrain the advance of the German tribes. The Romans also built three walls across the north of England to protect their colony. It was a waste of time and labour.
Lastly, we come to the most amazing rampart of all—that built by Mr. Gandhi and his eccentric friends—the gigantic " wall of make-believe." We are assured that the best way to defeat Hitler, Mussolini and the Japs is to squat behind this wall, repeat some mantras, and in the last resort, to invite these " gentlemen " into our homes and " allow ourselves, man, woman and child, to be slaughtered " (to use Mr. Gandhi's own words). This amazing structure is kept in good and constant repair by a host of Indian Lavals. Walls are a tacit admission of fear; they mark the beginning of a nation's decline.—I am, Sir, yours, &c., J. D. JENtaNs. Hamerton House, Kahun Road Camp, Poona.
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