The fourth type of challenge lies in the political field. There are two basic challenges today; one is to the unity of India and the second to the democratic way of life. I have no doubt in my mind that centrifugal forces are at work. People naturally start thinking about the differences in our national life. Personally, I am not afraid of them. Natural differences and geographical differences are bound to exist, because the country is so vast and so full of variety. We feel that we know India very well. I myself used to feel very proud about my own knowledge of India, but when I had an occasion to travel from one corner of the country to another, I realised how little I knew India. It is vast country full of varieties. India, on the bank of Sindhu near Leh, is quite different from India on the bank of Brahmaputra and both are quite different from what one sees on the banks of Krishna and Kaveri. The vastness of the country creates tremendous problems. But without these problems. there would be no challenges. The problems are there and they are going to remain there. When we are living and growing — and we have to grow constantly — there will be problems. The point is whether we are in a position to see these problems in their proper perspective and accept the challenges and try to meet them. As a result of these challenges, difficulties and problems, there will be tensions. Unfortunately, these tensions are exploited by the divisive forces. There is nothing wrong if a part of a country wants its development, if it wants a new harbour or a new plant. It is a very natural aspiration. The point is that while trying to achieve them, are we going to be the instruments of the divisive forces or are we going to adopt a positive approach? We must see these problems in their proper perspective and try to find solutions for them in a practical way. These solutions will have to be thought of by us as Indians and not merely as members of a linguistic group or a regional group. The great quality of Gandhiji and Nehru was that they thought in terms of India. It is not enough to say that India is a geographical entity and is one country under one Constitution. This is, no doubt, true and we are going to preserve it, whatever may be the sacrifices. But the basic challenge is to create a feeling of oneness among the people of this country. Unless some determined group of people dedicate themselves to these ideals and the tasks, India is not going to go ahead.
The second challenge in the political field is the challenge to the democratic way of life. When we are talking of economic progress or removal of disparities, we talk of equality of individuals also. But at the same time, an individual must remain an individual. The right to think freely and act freely is a basic concept of democracy. It is enshrined in our Constitution. Every individual, as a person, has a right to aspire for higher things. This basic concept will have to be worked out with caution, care, confidence and straight-forwardness.
