Lal Bahadur Shastri’s address to farmers in 1965

भारतीय किसानों से                                                                                                प्रधानमंत्री निवास,          

किसान भाइयों,                                                                                                          नई दिल्ली

      दो सौ या तीन सौ करोड़ रूपया कोई छोटी राशि नहीं होती। यह रक़म हमें हर साल विदेशों से अनाज मँगाने में खर्च करनी पड़ती है। खर्च के अलावा दूसरे देशों की ओर हमें देखना पड़ता है। मैं जानता हूँ कि एक किसान कभी दूसरे के आगे अनाज के लिए हाथ फैलाना पसन्द नहीं करता। देश का स्वाभिमान सबसे ज़्यादा देश के किसानों का स्वाभिमान है, क्योंकि देश की आबादी में 100 में 70 लोग किसान हैं। इसलिए देश के स्वाभिमान की रक्षा करने की सबसे अधिक ज़िम्मेदारी भी किसानों की है। साथ ही ज़िम्मेदारी निबाहने की कुंजी भी किसान भाइयों के हाथ में है, क्योंकि वही देश में अनाज की पैदावार बढ़ा सकते हैं। यदि किसान चाहें तो यह काम कोई बहुत कठिन भी नहीं है। यदि हर किसान मन-भर की जगह सवा मन अनाज पैदा करने लगे तो विदेशों से अनाज मँगाने की ज़रूरत ही न रह जाए।

      पर आज सवाल केवल देश के स्वाभिमान का अथवा देश की दौलत का नहीं रह गया है। आज सवाल देश के अस्तित्व का, देश की स्वतन्त्रता का है। इधर पाकिस्तान ने हम पर हमला किया है। उधर चीन हमारे देश पर आँख गड़ाए है। ऐसी हालत में हम विदेशों पर निर्भर नही रह सकते। सरकार ने किसान की मदद करने के लिए काफ़ी प्रयत्न किये हैं। अच्छे बीजों का, सिंचाई के पानी का, खाद (फर्टिलाइज़र) का और किसानों को कर्ज देने के लिए रूपये का प्रबन्ध किया गया है। अगले वर्षों में सरकारी मदद पहले से कहीं अधिक मात्रा में मिल सकेगी। किसानों को इससे पूरा फायदा उठाना चाहिए।

     साथ ही यह भी ज़रूरी है कि किसान अपने पैरों पर खड़ा हो। ज़्यादा-से-ज़्यादा जमीन पर पैदावार की जाए। कच्चे कुओं और तालाब आदि से सिंचाई की व्यवस्था करनी होगी। फर्टिलाइज़र खाद की कमी है, इसलिए कम्पोस्ट खाद अधिक से अधिक बनानी होगी। हर किसान का नारा होना चाहिए ‘’1965 में एक मन तो में सवा 1966 मन’’।

Source: Lal Bahadur Shastri Papers (I Inst.), MSS Section, NMML

Gandhiji from South Africa on the position of British Indians there

BRITISH INDIAN ASSOCIATION

25 & 26 Court Chambers

    Rissik Street

           Johannesburg, 10^th April, 1905

Dear Sir,

              “Mr. Lyttelton is reported to have said that since the decision in the test case in the Transvaal, the position of the British Indians had become better than before War. You will notice a reply to this statement in the “Indian Opinion” of the 8^th April in its first leading article. The position generally has certainly not become better, it has become worse than before War, and the relief that the test case has secured for the Indians simply takes them back to the pre-War days; but even for this the Government can hardly take any credit as they opposed the Indian contention strenuously before this Supreme Court.

                        In Natal, several bills, as you will see from the “Indian Opinion”, having an Anti-Indian tendency are being introduced, and the Orange River Colony is ever tightening its grip of the coloured people. Regulations are being passed in townships after townships, which, in my humble opinion, are unworthy of the British constitution, and could never be sanctioned by Mr. Lyttelton if they were introduced in the form of bills in the Legislative Council.’’

                                                                                                                 I remain,

                                                                                                      Yours faithfully,

Mr. Dadabhai Naoroji,

  22 Kennington Rd.

       LONDON.

Source: M.K. Gandhi (Pyarelal) Vth Inst. Vol. 3

How The BJP Wins: Inside India's Greatest Election Machine By Prashant Jha

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan’s view on unfurling of the National Flag at Red Fort

VICE-PRESIDENT

          INDIA

        New Delhi

     August 8, 1961.                                                                                                                                                        

My dear Rajaji,

               Prime Minister spoke to me about his correspondence with you. While in ordinary circumstances he would have agreed with your suggestion that I should hoist the Flag and take the salute at the Red Fort, in the present context he feels, and I agree with him, that it is likely to be misunderstood.

               We laughed at your sentence that I would be able to climb the stairs!

               I am glad I met you though I am sorry I was not able to have a quiet chat with you.

                                                                                                                     

Yours affectionately,

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan

Shri C. Rajagopalachari,

Bazlullah Road,

Thyagarajanagar, Madras - 17.

                                                                ***

PERSONAL & CONFIDENTAL

VICE-PRESIDENT

          INDIA

         New Delhi

     August 12, 1961

                                                                                                                                                             

My dear Rajaji,

                  Thank you for your letter of the 10^th.

                  You are not quite fair to the Prime Minister. He did not show me your letter. He merely quoted one or two sentences. He had to do it since your suggestion was that I should take the salute and unfurl the flag.

                 As you say, Jawaharlal Nehru is a national hero and people are eager to listen to him.

                 Rajen Babu has been the President from 26 January 1950 and all these years he had not unfurled the flag and taken the salute at the Red Fort, whatever may be the reason. If this August, when I am only discharging the functions of the President, I do so, uncharitable people, of whom we have a good number in our country, will take advantage and draw their own conclusions which will be most unfortunate.

                  I quite agree that civil servants and defence forces should be kept out of party politics. We should not do anything to involve them in party matters.

                 I trust you are getting better.

                                                                                                            Yours affectionately,

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan

                  

Shri C. Rajagopalachari,

Bazlullah Road,

Thayagarajanagar, Madras - 17.

Source: C. Rajagopalachari Papers (V Inst.), MSS Section

‘Restraining the Demos: Asymmetrical Federalism - A Way to Promoting Rul...

Abstract of a tribute to Dr. S. Radhakrishnan by M.S. Aney

M.S. Aney                                                                                                                      5-Meenabag

       New Delhi. 

MESSAGE FOR DR. S. RADHAKRISHNAN

78^th BIRTH-DAY COMMEMORATION VOLUME.

                                                                                       ***

         

        Dr. S. Radhakrishnan can be mentioned as the best and the most out –standing example of the universal respect in which a Vidwan is held by the civilised world (विद्वान सर्वत्र पूज्यते). The word Vidwan literally means one who knows the Vidya….  

         

       Among those Indians in the last hundred years who have been chosen by the Almighty in my humble opinion for this noblest mission Dr. S. Radhakrishnan is one. From the days of Ramkrishna Parma Hansa and Swami Vivekananda, there has been an unbroken line of teachers India has given to the world to interpret the gospel of the Upanishads to enable it to see the essential unity of the creation and establish the brotherhood of man. The work done so far by S. Radhakrishnan is a complete vindication of those fundamental propositions which were for the first time revealed to the Vedik Rishis and expounded by them in the Nasadiya Sukta of the Rig Veda….    

       …It is, therefore, a matter of great gratification to the people of India as well as the people of other new developing countries of the world that the services of a pre-eminently spiritual Professor like S. Radhakrishnan are available to the world. In his capacity as President of the Indian Democratic Republic, he comes in contact with the whole world. His voice for promotion for brotherhood of man, his strong denunciation of methods and movements based on the pernicious doctrine of class war and his earnest plea for one world government are heard with rapt attention and consideration by the intelligentia of the whole world. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan is an oracle that is proclaiming from the housetops as it were to all men and women the basic principles which the Indian Vedantists have found essential for the stable growth of human happiness  and thus to turn the earth into an abode of Gods to live. Man is made in the image of God. Radhakrishnan’s mission is to make him aware of it.
                                                    Oṁ Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ

Source: M.S. Aney Papers, MSS Section

1 September 1939: Views on World War II

To His Excellency the Marquees of Linlithgow

Viceroy and Governor General of India

Your Excellency,

         

        I wish Britain to win the war, and India to cooperate in every possible way in this struggle against triumphant Fascism. Although Indian resources are available for the purpose of war thanks to the consideration of the material benefit of this or that section of the people, yet unfortunately it is a fact that intelligent and voluntary popular support has not been enlisted.…

           

         The failure in this respect until now has been very largely due to the fact that the leaders of those organisations do not approach the problem of India’s participation in the war from the point of view of the larger issues involved. They are mainly concerned with communal or sectional or narrow, short-sighted, nationalist interests. Moreover, many of them, either for hostility towards Britain or an ill- conceived nationalism or reactionary social ideals and cultural outlook, or for other reasons and baser motives, wish victory of Fascism.

           

          I venture to address Your Excellency with the object of suggesting an alternative approach to the problem of popularising India’s participation in the war.

         

       There are many broad-minded, far-sighted and independent men, who occupy positions of honour and distinction in the public life of the country, although they may not be counted among the more vocal nationalist and communal leaders. Their cooperation could be more easily secured for the merit of the fight against Fascism. They would cooperate not in return for this or that concession, but out of conviction, believing that the defence of freedom, democracy and progress, threatened by Fascism, is a common cause of all who cherish those ideals. They would not be moved by the consideration of communal interests or party prestige; nor haggle over the number of seats.

         

        ....Before long, a situation will be created, in which a new election to the Legislative Assemblies in the provinces where the majority party has decided upon an obstructionist policy, can take place on the issue of India’s participation in the war. The result of that election can be expected to change the relation of forces, and consequently the restoration of constitutional Governments of India in all the provinces will be possible. The situation will be completely normalised, if the Central Legislative will also be re-elected according to the Government of India Act of 1935...

          

         In conclusion, I venture to points out that, internationally, an alliance with the Soviet Union will guarantee victory in the war against Fascism, His Majesty’s Government is not unmindful of the consideration. There are difficulties on the way. But delay is dangerous. My personal cooperation may be helpful in that respect. This my[sic] offer of cooperation may be conveyed to the Home Government if Your Excellency is pleased to do so.

    I close with the fervent hope that these suggestion will receive due consideration of Your Excellency.

[M.N. Roy]

Dehradun, September 26, 1940.               

Roshanbag, Mohini Road.

 Source: M.N. Roy Papers, MSS Section