Shri M.M. Hassan, Chairman Nehru Centre and former Minister of Kerala,
Shri Pandalam Sudhakaran, former Minister of Kerala,
Shri George Onakkoor, Eminent Writer,
Shri Cherian Philip, Co-Ordinator, Nava Keralam Karma Padhathi,
Dr. M.R. Thampan, General Secretary, Nehru Centre,
Adv. V.S. Hareendra Nath, Vice Chairman, Nehru Centre,
Shri P. Sreekumar, Secretary, Nehru Centre,
Friends in media, Sahodaree Sahodaranmare,
Ellaavarkkum Ente Namaskaaram.
I am very happy to inaugurate the Nehru Jayanti Celebrations organized by Nehru Centre, a non-political voluntary organization, dedicated to the spreading of awareness about the contributions of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru among the children of our State.
Let me, at the outset, compliment everyone at the Nehru Centre for their efforts to commemorate Pt. Nehru, not just on his birth anniversary, but also during different occasions, through meaningful activities like debates and discussions.
I am informed that the All Kerala inter collegiate debating competition in Malayalam conducted by Nehru Centre, has been acknowledged as one of the prestigious debating contests for college students in the State. It is not just the attractive prize money or the glitter of the Nehru Rolling Trophy that makes such an initiative significant. Instead, the fostering of a democratic attitude in our youth is what matters most.
As a statesman, Pt. Nehru firmly believed that a democratic structure was essential to hold India together by providing space to various cultural, political, and socio-economic trends to express themselves. He also felt it essential to establish a strong and stable parliamentary system in India at the dawn of Independence. Every debate that we conduct in his memory would remind us of the importance of debate in the parliamentary process and at the same time call to our mind Panditji’s Tryst with Destiny oration at that historic midnight hour, when India awoke to life and freedom. Nehru's faith in discourse was evident in his belief that all programmes and policies of the Government must be properly debated, understood, evaluated and then accepted. He firmly believed that a democratic policy always promoted self-discipline and social responsibility in individuals. Nehru's belief was that the right to vote alone did not develop a sense of freedom in people; it came only when the people participated in the social discourses.
However, as decades have passed, constructive deliberations are now very rare, when we consider the sad levels to which some of our contemporary debates have fallen, especially on Television.
The greatness of Nehru was that he and his style of functioning could inspire even those who were politically against him. Former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee-ji for instance, had acknowledged how Nehruvian principles guided him in his career. Another rare quality he nurtured as a statesman was his respect for the Opposition. Though Nehru was against the policies of the Communist Party, he strongly opposed the banning of that party since he believed that it was right only to fight it legally. Many a time, Panditji affirmed that he did not want India to be a country in which millions of people said YES to any one man and that he wanted a strong opposition.
Nehru who always upheld high democratic principles was also a passionate advocate of the education of our children and the youth. He established many centres of higher learning while his Five Year Plans focused on adult education centres and technical schools. He streamlined the activities of different departments and ensured the overall development of the nation through a series of institutions for science and technology. He was the architect of modern India on every count.
Gandhiji had described Jawaharlal Nehru as an artist, an ardent patriot, a humanitarian and an internationalist. As we all know, Panditji had plunged into the National Movement as he was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s clarion call of duty. It is not surprising that a Gandhian touch reflected in many of Nehru's future ideals, especially in matters related to the free expression of ideas. Many people are not aware of his contribution to the planning of a Working Journalists Act, which envisaged a degree of protection to journalists, thereby ensuring the freedom of the Press. To the political cartoonist Shankar, he once said: “Don't spare me”, indicating that tolerance to criticism was an essential quality in any Statesman.
As we recall the contributions of Pandit Nehru on his birth anniversary, we are also aware of his commitment towards the cause of the unity of India. For him, national unity was not limited to political unity; it meant but the integration of our minds and hearts, and the suppression of feelings of separatism. We need to ask ourselves whether we could successfully ensure the integration of minds and hearts through over seventy years of freedom.
These days, we often hear demands to ensure the participation of the people in decisions related to our developmental activities. Panditji had great faith in the ability of a democracy to mobilize the people and to actively involve them in development and nation-building activities. It was through such participation that he expected the people of India to achieve the noble objective of social, economical and political justice, mentioned in the Preamble to our sublime Constitution.
I hope, the Nehru Centre, through its activities would inspire our younger generation with the ideals of unity and parliamentary democracy put forward by Nehru. I understand that as part of the 40th year celebrations of Nehru Centre, monthly discussions are going to be held in different parts of Kerala with the slogan Remember Nehruji and Save Secularism. That eminent personalities like the former President Shri K.R. Narayanan, former Governors like
Dr P.C. Alexander and Shri M.M. Jacob and many others had participated in earlier discussions evince the noble intentions of this organization. I hope Nehru Centre continues to make an impact through its social interventions in future also.
I congratulate all the young people who have won prizes in the various competitions conducted by Nehru Centre and wish them greater success in future.
I compliment the organizers for conducting this function in a befitting manner.
Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni / Jai Hind
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