Thursday, Aug 15, 2002
Thursday, Aug 15, 2002 |
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By Neena Vyas
The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, addressing the nation on the eve of Independence Day.
The "first vision" created the 90-year long intensive movement for freedom, led by Mahatma Gandhi, when there was a "unity of minds of our people and unity of purpose in actions". What was needed now was a "second vision" to release the dormant potential of the nation and its people and "will also remove the conflicts arising out of differences and small thinking". In an address broadcast to the nation, Dr. Kalam asserted that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India, that it was "not an international issue" and that India would be ready for a bilateral dialogue once cross-border terrorism was brought to a complete end. It was "essential" to ensure "the successful completion of the electoral process" and to bring about the "dawn of peace" in the State. While stressing the need for finding a "permanent solution" to effectively combat terrorism, the President paid equal importance to bringing to an end "communal and other divisive clashes" in "certain parts". He did not shy away from mentioning his visit to Gujarat and laid stress on the need to "understand others" and "practice toleranse". Gujarat had given to the nation Mahatma Gandhi, Vallabhbhai Patel and Vikram Sarabhai, and that time had come to put into action the thoughts of these great men. He underlined that non-violence, tolerance and acceptance of all religions and the fearless search for truth were values taught by the Mahatma, and they were the "cornerstones of our civilisational heritage" and therefore of the Indian polity. It was this "pluralistic tradition" and the civilisational heritage of 3,000 years over which a "unique fusion" of multiple cultures, religions and ways of life had taken place, and this had become the foundation of Indian life. And as if giving a gentle warning (in the context of Gujarat), Dr. Kalam reminded the country that "any act by anyone anywhere in India that runs counter to these eternal values would pose a threat to the fabric of the free Indian nation..." The youth needed role models from the present generation (not just from the past when the freedom movement threw up a galaxy of tall men). Members of Parliament and Legislatures could shape the future of children by becoming role models. "Parliament and Legislatures have a crucial role in giving the vision of developed India and value-based polity." Greeting the countrymen, Dr. Kalam talked of the need to harness technology to go forward in many areas and to find ways to prevent the annual cycle of drought and floods through the networking of rivers. India had made a mark in the international arena in space, defence and nuclear science, pharmaceuticals, information technology and mass media and communication. "If we can rise above our personal hardships and see the problems of others and work for a larger cause, there will be a natural elevation of the mind, while the level of thinking goes down when the opposite happens." "The nation is more important than any individual, party or organisation, and this is the vow that all of us must take on the anniversary of Independence Day," Dr. Kalam said.
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