Jawaharlal Nehru views on Democracy
LIFE is a curve --- it is not a straight
line --- and the life of nation is even more of a curve. Logical and straight lines are tangents which
go off the curve and if the tangent is too far away from the curve of a
nation’s life, then there is conflict and upheaval.---Speech in Parliament, 29
May 1951.
WITH all my determination and love
democracy, I am not prepared to accept the statement that the largest number of
people are always right.---Speech in Parliament, 18 Feb 1953.
THESE days the biggest temple and mosque
and gurdwara is the place where man works for the good of mankind. Which place can be greater than this…where
thousands and lakhs of men have worked, have shed their blood and sweat and
laid down their lives as well? --- Speech at the opening of the Nangal Canal, 8
July 1954.
PEACE in our view is not merely abstention
from war but an active and positive approach to international problems and
relations, leading, first, to the lessening of the present tension through an
attempt to solve our problems by methods of negotiation, and then, to a growing
cooperation between nations in various ways – cultural and scientific contacts,
increase in trade and commerce, and exchange of ideas, experience and
information. --- Statement at the Dynamo Stadium, Moscow, 22 June 1955.
A nation cannot progress if it merely
imitates its ancestors; what builds a nation is creative, inventive and vital
activity. – Speech, Saugor, 30 October 1952.
ONE of the tragedies of history is the
slowness with which people’s minds adapt themselves to a changing
environment….Article, 27 May 1939
FRANKNESS hurts often enough, but it is
almost always desirable, especially between those who have to work
together.---Letter to Sarat Chandra Bose, 24 March 1939.
FREEDOM is not a mere matter of political
decision or new constitutions, not even a matter of what is more important,
that is, economic policy. It is of the
mind and heart and if the mind narrows itself and is befogged and the heart is
full of bitterness and hatred, then freedom is absent.---Message on First
Anniversary of Independence, 15 August 1948.
THE alliance of religion and politics in
the shape of communalism is a most dangerous alliance, and it yields the most
abnormal kind of illegitimate brood.---Speech in Parliament, 3 April 1948.
A university stands for humanism, for
tolerance, for reason, for progress, for the adventure of ideas and for the
search for truth. It stands for the
onward even higher objectives. But if
the temple of learning itself becomes a home of narrow bigotry and petty
objectives, how then will the nation prosper or a people grow in
stature?---Speech, Allahabad, 13 December 1947.
ANYTHING that is static becomes stagnant
and gradually leads to death. I am all
for opening our minds to every kind of knowledge or information that can be
obtained. I am all for free intercourse
with the rest of the world; I want not barriers.---Speech, New Delhi, 17
November 1952.
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