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resurgence of afro-Asian countries for the sake of (Second Session) said : liberation from colonial rule. India made it "Time was when I prided myself on being, and categorically clear to keep aloof from all alignments. being called, a British subject. I have ceased for
Asian Relations Conference was held from 23 many years to call myself a British subject, I would March to 2 April 1947 in New Delhi. In this gathering far rather be called a revel than a subject. But I have both Gandhi and Nehru ,stressed the role of Asia aspired- I still aspire to be citizen, not in the Empire, and India in the promotion of world peace. Gandhi but in a Commonwealth ; in a partnership if God declared "I would not like to see that dream realized wills it an indissoluble partnership but not a in my life time". Gandhiji advocated "voluntary inter- partnership super-imposed upon one nation by dependence" of nations as against their isolated another". independence", and "universal interdependence P andit Nehru formulated India's foreign policy rather than independence". The AICC in its adopting Gandhian prescription. It resolution 1942 under Gandhi subscribed to an found its expression in the formulation of idealistic approach to India's foreign policy. It Panchasheel. Panchasheel are five principles of expressed the future" peace, security and ordered peaceful co-existence signed between India and
he world demand a World Federation China in April 1954. These are : of free nations and on no other basis can the
(i) Mutual respect for each other's territorial problems of the modern world be solved". Such a
Integrity and sovereignty World Federation was advocated for the sake of the freedom of the member nations, prevention of
(ii) Mutual non-aggression aggression and exploitation of one nation by (iii) Mutual non-interference in each other's another, protection of national minorities,
internal affairs advancement.
(iv) Equality and mutual benefit and Gandhi advised the Asian delegates to convey (v) Peaceful coexistence. to the whole world, particularly the west the T he policy of Non-Alignment reflected message of Love and Truth. He said:
the essence of Gandhian prescription and "The west today is pining for wisdom. It is reiteration of 'Panchasheel'. It has grown in to a despairing of the multiplication of atom bombs, gigantic movement having 118 countries as because the multiplication of atom bombs means members and completing its 14th Summit. In fact, utter destruction not merely of the west but of the the Non- Aligned Movement (NAM) is rightly whole world, as if the prophecy of the Bible is going described" History's biggest peace movement", it to be fulfilled and there is to be, heaven forbid, a stood for 'Atom for peace'. The only possible deluge. It is up to you to deliver the whole world, not answer to the atom bomb is non-violence. merely Asia, from that sin. That is the precious As Pandit Nehru used to say" I would call ours heritage your teachers and my teachers have left the authentic Gandhian era and the policies and us".
philosophy which seek to implement are the policy Gandhi was in favour of building up of a "World and philosophy taught to us by Gandhiji. There have Commonwealth". Gandhi in his speech on 15 been no break in the continuity of our thoughts September 1931 at the Round Table Conference before and after 1947".
(૧૧૨) (સત્ય-અહિંસા-અપરિગ્રહ)
પ્રબુદ્ધ જીવન : ગાંધી સાર્ધશતાબ્દી વિશેષાંક (ઑકટોબર- ૨૦૧૮)
