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JULY, 1973
hold out a clear prospect of peace and happiness for humanity. There is the danger, in fact, that man may become the prisoner of his environment.
How then do we escape from this awful predicament ? The answer does not lie on the economic or technological plain. There is now a growing realisation among right-thinking people that the solution to man's problems lies in the restoration of a spiritual and ethical dimension to his life. Man's conquest of his natural environment must be matched by man's conquest of his internal self. Discipline, non-violence, compassion, wisdom and self-lessness are fundamental for a better world. This is the challenge of our times and what Lord Mahavira preached centuries ago has profound significance for contemporary society.
I am happy to be with you this evening on this very auspicious occasion. The best homage that we can pay to Lord Mahavira is not by erecting memorials or building temples but by practising in our own imperfect way the precepts and the code of conduct that he laid down. I wish your programme of celebrations every success.
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