WINDS OF CHANGE

Last year, during the short conflict with Pakistan, we experienced an unprecedented degree of national unity. But that was achieved under abnormal conditions. What is the picture that one sees when the country is not threatened by an aggressor? I would urge you to recall the situation that was obtaining immediately before the Pakistani aggression in August 1965. We were indulging in slogan-shouting, agitational activities, organising Bandhs and so on. It gave us cause for anxiety because even though the nation was preparing for its defence on one hand, it was weakened by internal dissensions on the other. I know that when the armed forces started their march to meet the aggressor, we buried our differences and stood unitedly. I would have been happy if that achievement had lasted. Unfortunately, immediately after the Tashkent Agreement, we reverted to our position; we started our quarrels and the slogans of `Bandhs' were again raised. I am not mentioning this to apportion blame to this or that leader. Possibly, their motive in highlighting the grievances of the people was unquestionable. But the reality is that it is not the motive behind an action that is important but the consequences which flow from it. Our hostile neighbours do not decide their foreign policies on the basis of our motives. Their reactions are based on the reality of conditions which are created here as a con­sequence of certain actions that are taken by us. By law, by Constitution, we became one nation twenty years ago. But have we attained the stage where we can say that by emotion and by thought we act as one nation? Have we attained the mental make-up where we consider national problems as of the highest priority and our personal problems as of secondary importance? These are questions which have to be answered by every one of us individually. I am not asking for a public answer. But I must say that by and large the reply to these questions is not satisfactory. That is why I wanted to make a special mention of the fact that the security of the country is not solely dependent on the size and the efficiency of the defence machinery alone. To a large extent, it will also be determined by the unity in the country that we achieve through emotional oneness and identity of purpose. All of us must come forward to promote this feeling of oneness. If as an individual, as a society, as a State and as a nation, we could work towards this goal, our hostile neighbours will also realise that India is one nation. Then even if they have allies in powerful countries, they will have to think ten times before committing aggression against our country. If India is to rise as one nation, then the process of creating this sense of oneness will have to be accelerated.