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Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru , Aug 20: Mangaluru university observed seven days workshop 'Democratic Political Leadership' to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru at Mangala Auditorium here on Thursday August 20.

Congress leader and former union minister Manish Tiwari after inaugurating the occasion said "Nehru's leadership was born after prolong mass movement. It was unparalleled in the global history and was absolutely voluntary in spirit. It was able to shake the foundations of the mightiest empire of those times. The basic ideas of India's independent struggle were, commitment to a secular and inclusive democracy, the conception of sovereignty routed in anti imperialism and pro poor orientation. and these fundamentals actually constituted the idea of India."

"Could India have become an authoritarian state, could it have become a denominational state or the Hindurastra, considering that we had bloody partition in the name of religion ? Could it have become quantum of foreign part, could it have become capitalist in its economic philosophy forgetting the millions of poor? The answer is no because given the diversity of India, given the economic complexity of India, given the social fabric of India, the only Idea of India which could prevail is the idea which was conceptualized by the Nehru and contemporaries who led the Indian freedom movement. One of the greatest criticism you hear about Nehru is with regard to the economic policies. New liberal economists are very fond of criticising the aspect of Nehruvian legacy and saying that four decades after independence were lost," he added.

"Nehru inherited an India with the growth of 0% growth in GDP. Three million people had perished in the undivided Bengal province during the period of second world war. In 1950, 90% of the machine and machine tools were imported into India. In the year 1947 when India got its freedom 84% people were illiterate and among 90% were women.The average life expectancy of an Indian was 30 years which meant that the poor died much younger. Per capita income had shrunk annually by 0.2% by 1917 to 1947. In the first three five year plans industry grew by 7.11% per annum and the index of industrial productions grew almost 300% percent between 1951 to 1969. But unfortunately over the last 6 months have seen the negative growth in the economy. You take out from the pockets of the poorest of the poor to fill the coffers of the rich," Tiwari said.

Speaking about the Non-Alignment Movement Tiwari said, "Nehru deliberately chose the path of non-alignment because that was only path India could have chosen since entire Indian Independence struggle was promised on the rejection of theory of dominance. Indian National Congress gave opportunity to India to provide leadership. Non-alignment has allowed India to engage the world on its own terms. Nehru showed the path to India to engage the world on its own terms."

On the secularism of Nehru, Tiwari said, "Nehru's central argument was that despite the partition, India has such a diverse minority population belonging to different faith. You cannot wish them away, make them to disappear or make them convert into Hindurastra that will completely destroy the spiritual essence of India. If you look at the discourse of last one year, there is kind of polarization. They have not learnt that what religion has done to Pakistan. It is destroyed the whole country. A country which was formed in the name of religion 1947 split in the name of language 1971. And whatever remains in Pakistan being assaulted by the same snakes which they nurtured in their back yard.The government which is in Delhi now wants to Pakistanize India and put India into same mould. People need to wake up to stop the the great evil from progressing."

Tiwari also spoke on Nehruvian democratic view.

University vice-chancellor Prof Byrappa presided on this occasion.

State minister B Ramanath Rai, Dr Rajaram Tholpady,Syndicate member Mohan P V, registrar Palale Subrahmanya Yadapadithaya, scholar Valerian Rodrigus, Dr G Shankar and others were present.