[Points: What the expression means—usefulness of manual labour—wrong idea of our educated men about it—we cannot do without manual labour—manual labour is beneficial—not to use the hand is a shameful waste of a blessing of God.]
All forms of work, manual or intellectual, are called labour. When we till a land or carry a load, we work with our hands, and are said to do manual work. But when we read a book or write a letter, our tongue or hand is at work, but our brain or intellect plays the main part. We then said to be engaged in intellectual work. Dignity of labour chiefly means respectability of manual labour.
Manual labour is very useful to us. The daily affairs of life cannot run without it. Ploughmen supply us with bread by toiling in the field; masons build us houses; carpenters make us furniture; smiths shape our ploughshares and other implements by the sweat of their face.
Unfortunately, in our country, the educated youths are generally averse to manual labour under a false sense of dignity. They forget that respectability lies, not in whether a work is done with the hand or with the intellect, but in how well it is done. A sweeper who does his work well is more praiseworthy and hence more honourable than a high-placed official who neglects his duties. A story is told of a man who once, when angry, thus spoke to a person who had risen to high position, "Sir, I remember when you were only a drummer boy." "And didn't I drum well ?" was the reply. Ti.is was well said. He knew what his work was; and though it was humble, he was not ashamed of it and tried to do it well. In western countries even University students sometimes work as menials in hotels and other places during vacations in order to meet their expenses. Moreover, where would we have got our food and shelter from if those we look down upon had not worked with the hand ?
Manual labour is beneficial in other respects, too. It keeps us physically fit, and fosters a spirit of industry, self-help and manliness and thereby helps moral growth. Moreover, our hands are for work. If we do not use them, we are surely guilty of neglecting one of the highest blessings of God.
And nothing can be more shameful than to waste such a blessing.
