NATIONAL AWARENESS AND
NATION-BUILDING

The Road Ahead

For the development of a country, a practical and constructive programme is essential. Yet before such a programme can succeed, there must first be individuals who are willing to adopt it wholeheartedly. At present, it is vital to nurture this awareness among every citizen: that differences are a natural part of every society, and they will always exist in one form or another. What matters is learning to live together despite disagreements, grievances, and the occasional sense of injustice. Mature societies progress not by eliminating differences but by managing them with patience, wisdom, and genuine understanding.

The solution to our country’s problems is the same as the one expressed long ago: peaceful resolution of conflicts. To achieve this, we must launch a wide-reaching and thoughtful awareness campaign that encourages dialogue, cooperation, and shared responsibility.

At the invitation of Bharat Vikas Parishad, a trip to Rajasthan took place. On March 31, 1995, at 3:00 p.m., a meeting of youth was held at the Information Centre (Soochna Kendra). After the introductory remarks, I was invited to speak. In my address, I stated that if we collectively embrace two fundamental principles, nothing will be able to hinder the country’s progress.

At present, many people know only how to take from the nation; they have not learnt how to contribute to it positively. Such an attitude is harmful not only to the country but, in the long term, also to the well-being and moral development of individuals themselves.

The first principle is that national interest must be placed above personal interest. Only then can a country move forward with unity and purpose. The second principle is that the greatest obstacle to our progress is the Hindu-Muslim conflict, which is rooted almost entirely in misunderstandings rather than in real differences.

During the time of the Emergency, when Hindus and Muslims were arrested and placed in jail together, each discovered that the doubts they held about the other community were groundless. Once genuine interaction begins, misconceptions quickly dissolve. If opportunities for meaningful contact between Hindus and Muslims increase, the vast majority of misunderstandings will disappear naturally, gradually, and permanently. q

Anger

May Appear Directed At Others, But The Real Price Is Always Paid By The One Who is Angry.