Aristotle, it was who said that man is a thinking animal—and it has been proved beyond doubt, by man's words and deeds, more by the latter, that while he performs the function of the animal with a gusto, the former function—that of thinking, is not much relished by him; he needs all the coaxing. The Modern age, none need point out, depends more upon thinking and that correctly and at the proper time, for its very existence—for there seems to be a sort of mad rush of events, causing a sort of confusion. Hence the need for thinking becomes the utmost necessity today—for any and all aspects of life. Not that one argues, that for ages past, thought played no important part in man's affair—but the point to be remembered is, today, the mass cannot allocate the function of thinking to the Thinkers! All should bestow their thought on almost all affairs, for in the modern age there is much more inter-dependence in society than what was to be found in ages past. Man is a thinking animal, said the ancient philosopher, possibly with the hope of curbing out as much of the animal in him as was possible.

News papers, of whatever dimension or description, offer their service, in this field and art of thinking—by presenting facts, that persuade people to think—place before the public the thoughts of those whom we may conveniently term as worthies so that the public can have a comparative study about the purpose and process of thinking—for only when mankind succeeds to a remarkable degree in this art of thinking can it hope to better its position and the world which it inhabits.

It is exactly because we do not arrogate to ourselves the place of a 'Thinker' that we are placing 'Homeland' before the public,—we are thinking aloud and along with millions of men and women, who today are being forced to eat the pudding prepared for them by others, from unwholesome stuff. We think aloud because that seems to be the best way of making others think for themselves. Tutoring creates a dullness, which will naturally lead to slavishness, and sluggishness—the baneful effects of which the world today witnesses. We do not take upon ourselves—we refuse to be that much impudent—the task of contributing some remarkable, unique standard in this already rich field of journalism—there are many 'elders' who do wield the pen with a mighty force and have earned a well deserved tribute, here and elsewhere. We are here to think aloud and thereby, help in the healthy growth of the process of thinking.

Burke who was all ablaze when the Americans raised the standard of revolt against England—thundered forth 'taxation without representation is an immoral un-English deed'—Yet when in France an oppressed people, steeped in misery, soaked in tyranny, and beaten to smitherns by poverty—rose in revolt against the power-gluttons who sat on the gilded seats, at Paris—wept copiously, warned the English and the world—and condemned the 'rabble' as he termed an enraged people—and all from his safe seat at London.

Burke, we daresay is a symptom to be found in all ages and climes and we find here today, those who were loud in their condemnation of everything imperialistic real or fake—who announced to the world with a power that made the alien shudder in their shoes, that no government is as good as our own government—these Burkes who had enough heroism in them to plead for the annihilation of the alien rule, today raise their brows in derision, and lament that some thoughtless people are taking the wrong road—talking about fantastic theories—demanding impossibilities—and demagoguing dangerous propaganda. And this is because the animal instinct—the Jungle law—gets hold of the Man.

Coleridge wrote hence, "as there is much beast and some devil in man, so there is some angel and some God in him. The beast and the devil may be conquered but in this life never wholly destroyed." But it is for this purpose of annihilating or at any rate keeping under control this animal instinct, that attempts are being made from time to time, by not only 'seers and saints' but in a more practical way, by also those who take upon themselves the task of maintaining the democratic way of life. And the democratic way of life should have as its bedrock, wholesome thinking, individually, so that when a collective action is taken, it would be, not a regimentation' but, an amalgamation of ideas. 'Homeland' hopes to contribute, in its own humble way, something towards this end. And hence, we are emboldened to request the readers, to forgive the very many 'short-comings' in the get-up of the journal, and offer, their unstinted support, for a noble cause.
(Editorial - 27-10-1957)