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BIRTH OF A NOBLE NATION
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Temple says know thyself just as the Upanishads say atmanam viddhi. He also stated that the greatest of civilizations does not depend upon the extent of territory which they have or the size of the population which they embrace, but it depends upon the artistic, intellectual and spiritual achievements of the countries themselves.'
The development that took place during the twentieth century had improved the condition of human life but conflicts in our day-to-day life remained. A peaceful and prosperous society remains elusive. How do we realize such a society? One of the important components of a noble nation is paving the way for unity of minds in a diverse world. Certain experiences in our own country and elsewhere reveal that unity of minds is possible. On this subject of unity of minds, there were discussions between Acharya Mahapragya and me on different occasions.
PILGRIMAGE FOR WORLD PEACE
Acharya: I took the spiritual path. You structured your own life. How do you describe your experience? Kalam: Strength and dignity come out of struggle. I would like to recall my travel in Durban, South Africa, on 16 September 2004. The train halted at Pietermartizburg, the station where the monster of apartheid bit Gandhiji on the cold winter night of 7 June 1893. He was evicted out of a first class compartment because of the colour of his skin. Acharya: This was the rebirth of Ahimsa Dharma after the Kalinga War in 300 BC. Kalam: Fortunately there is continuity, Acharyaji. You are promoting the principle of non-violence in a mission mode. When I was standing at Pietermartizburg railway station, two scenes were fresh in my mind. One was of
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