75. How to serve your country

During his visit to England in the latter half of 1931 in connection with the Second Round Table Conference, Gandhiji met a number of his countrymen at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Pardhi in Birmingham. When someone among them asked him how best to be of service to India, his reply was: "Put your talents in the service of your country instead of converting them into £ s. d. If you are a medical man, there is disease enough in India to need a11 your medical skill. If you are a lawyer, there are differences and quarrels enough in India. Instead of fomenting more trouble, patch up those quarrels and stop litigation. If you are an engineer, build model houses suited to the needs and means of our people, and yet full of health and fresh air. There is nothing that you have learnt which cannot be turned to account."