PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH AT THE NAMING OF STREET AFTER MAHATMA
GANDHI
Following
is the text of the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s
speech at the naming of a street after Mahatma Gandhi in Almaty,
today:
"I am delighted
to be here today in this beautiful and tranquil part of Almaty.
Indeed, Almaty seems to have combined charmingly the tranquillity
of ancient times with the rapid growth of modernity, retaining
an air of serene peace.
The Silk Route
that passed through this part of the world in ancient times connected
the diverse places and people of our continent with trade. But,
it also connected them with the message of peace and wisdom. Thus,
Gautam Buddha’s teachings travelled from India to Kazakhstan.
Today, we honour another Apostle of Peace and Non-Violence – Mahatma
Gandhi.
Both Buddha and
Gandhi were born in India. But they belong to the world.
It is most gracious
of you, Mr. President, and your Government to preserve the memory
of the Mahatma in your land, and in this enduring manner of naming
a street after him. Today we also gratefully recall that the Kazakh
Government had shown the special gesture of issuing two postage
stamps on Mahatma Gandhi on his 125th birth anniversary.
By honouring the
Mahatma, you are honouring India because we claim him as the Father
of our Nation. But you are also honouring the universal and eternal
values that he stood for. He developed his philosophy of Satya
and Ahimsa – Truth and Non-Violence – into a powerful instrument
against oppression and violence. It preaches conquest by love,
not by arms. It prefers the force of persuasion to that of coercion.
Mahatma Gandhi
emphasized that non-violence is a mark of bravery, not of cowardice.
By unleashing its moral force, he mobilized millions upon millions
of ordinary Indians into a unique national liberation movement.
A struggle that ultimately vanquished the rule of a mighty colonial
empire.
The experience
of the 20th century has vindicated the need and relevance
of Mahatma’s philosophy. We know how the influenced public figures
like Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela.
Mr.
President, Mahatma Gandhi’s life and teachings will continue to
be relevant in the 21st century for another important
reason. Throughout his life, he preached and practiced mutual
tolerance and understanding among people belonging to all the
religions of the world. In this, he echoed the age-old conviction
of India’s civilisation that ‘Truth is One, the wise only interpret
it differently – ‘Ekam Sat Viprah Bahudha Vadanti’.
Today, the
world is getting smaller and more inter-dependent than ever before.
Therefore, more than ever before, the followers of different religions
need to show equal respect for each other’s faiths and learn the
virtues of peaceful co-existence. Extremism and terrorism in the
name of religion are common enemies of mankind.
Both
India and Kazakhstan can be proud that we are examples of this
great principle. It is, therefore, fitting that Gandhiji should
be honoured today in the land of batyrs (men of brave heart) –
the men and women of Kazakhstan – who are building such a wonderful
country together. Let Mahatma Gandhi continue to inspire the people
of India and Kazakhstan – and indeed, the people of the world
– in the decades and centuries to come.
Thank
You".
