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VIEWPOINT
UNITY OF MINDS
The new President of India, H.E. Abdul Kalam gave the following address on Independence Day, a message which is very relevant in the modern day
M
y salutations to all of you both in India and abroad. After Independence, India has made significant achievements in agriculture and food production, energy, healthcare, education and various fields of science and technology. We have made our mark in the international arena particularly in the fields of pharmaceuticals, information technology, mass media and communication, space, defence and nuclear science.
Similar to the first vision, which created a movement to achieve freedom with unity of minds of our people and the unity of purpose in actions, we need a second vision, which will integrate people from all walks of our society towards a common purpose. The second vision of our nation is to transform it from the present developing status to a developed nation by integrated actions simultaneously in the areas of agriculture and food processing, education and healthcare, infrastructure development including power, information and communication technologies and also critical technologies. This greater vision will aim to alleviate poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. When the minds of the people of our country are unified and fused towards this vision, the dormant potential will manifest as a mammoth power leading to a happy and prosperous life of a billion people. This vision of the nation will also remove the conflicts arising out of differences and small thinking.
I would like to share with you, friends, another crucial requirement and necessity for our country. We cannot sustain the second vision for the country without Unity of Minds of all our people. Our great strength is our pluralistic tradition and civilisational heritage of nearly 3000 years. I have always been asking myself what the strength of our heritage is. A unique fusion has taken place with multiple cultures, religions and the ways of life in many parts of the world and that has become the foundation of the Indian life.
I have just returned from Gujarat after interactions with various cross sections of people, leaders, officials and rehabilitation workers in the areas affected by recent distur
Jain Spirit December 2002 - February 2003
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Jain Education International 2010_03
bances and earthquake. I also visited the Sabarmati Ashram which was established by Mahatma Gandhi for the purpose of our countrymen to carry on the search for truth and develop fearlessness. I sat in silence for a while in the ashram and remembered the life of Gandhiji. One dominant thought came to my mind. If we can go above our own personal hardships, see the problems of others and decide to work for a larger cause, then there is natural elevation of our minds. When we are lax in this, then our level of thinking goes down. I felt confident that all of us can be elevated to the level of noble minds, if we just decide to understand others and to practise tolerance. I realised that Gujarat has given the noble leader Mahatma Gandhi, unifier of the nation, Vallabhbhai Patel and Vikram Sarabhai, the great visionary in science and technology, and many others. Time has come for every one of us to put the thoughts of these great souls into action for the nation's welfare.
Non-violence, tolerance, acceptance of all religions and the different ways of life, search for truth and fearlessness are the values Mahatma taught us. They are the cornerstones of our civilisational heritage and, therefore, of Indian policy. Any act by anyone anywhere in India that runs counter to these eternal values would pose a threat to the fabric of the free Indian nation which was born and nurtured by supreme sacrifices of countless noble souls. We should all work together to achieve the mission for Unity of Minds to preserve what we so preciously earned and reach greater heights in the future. When I interact with schoolchildren and youth, wherever I go, one question very often arises: "Who are our role models?" Parents and teachers have to show them by their example to live as enlightened citizens.
I am sure, our leadership and our people can achieve the second vision of developed India. Let us take a vow on this Independence Day that the nation is more important compared to any individual, party or organisation. Jai Hind.
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