JAWAHARLAL NEHRU SAID
“One of the principles which Gandhiji taught us is the unity
of the people of India, whether they live in different States, or whether they
follow different religions, or whether they speak different languages.
Sitting here I see you have put up
an illuminated representation of a Hindu temple, a Muslim mosque and a
Christian church ---all together. That is a symbol of religious unity, and I
congratulate you on having put up this symbol here. We have laid down that
every citizen, whether he is a Hindu or Muslim or Christian or Jew or Jain or
Buddhist or whether he has no religion at all, has equal rights. In the
political sphere we are the citizens of India and we have to work together. Any
person who creates difficulties in the name of State or religion or language
does an ill-service to India and he does
an ill-service to his own State or religion or language,
“Remember that everything that
separates us or creates conflict amongst us is bad. Everything that unites us
and brings us together is good. Apply that test to whatever problem you have.
It is a good test.”
The above-quoted speech, according
to Thoughts of Jawahalal Nehru, a 1989
centenary publication, was delivered at Dindigul, on 8 December 1957. I believe
that its socio-political validity is eternal.
Jawaharlal Nehru, a freedom-fighter,
and later the first Prime Minister of free India from 1947 to 1964, was born on
14 November 1989 at Allahabad, now renamed
as Prayagraj. He died in New Delhi on 27 May 1964 . To put it very briefly, he was
a world statesman, a secular humanist
and also a great writer.
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G.R.Kanwal
15th November 2023
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