Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (MS)
New Delhi, Feb 23: Former Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh on Saturday February 23 released the book 'Who is Bharat Mata' by Prof Purushottam Agrawal and its Kannada translation 'Yaaru Bharat Maate?' by Prof K E Radhakrishna. The book has been published by Swapna Book House, Bengaluru in association with Delhi Karnataka Sangha.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Singh said, "The book 'Yaaru Bharat Maate?' is wonderful. The book contains writings and speeches of former Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru. It also gives a complete picture of India's freedom movement. This book is a collection of great achievements of freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Moulana Azad, Arun Asaf Ali, Sheikh Abdullah, Subhash Chandra Bose, Mohammed Aris Singh, Ali Sardar and others. The Kannada translation of the book has really come out well. I thank Prof Radhakrishnan, who has put in his efforts in this work. I also wish all the best for the publication of this great book."
The programme was presided over by member of Rajya Sabha and renowned writer Jairam Ramesh. President of Karnataka Catholic Federation and philanthropist Ronald Colaco, president of Bharatiya Therapanthi Jain Yuva Sangha Vimal Karariya, president of Delhi Karnataka Sangha Dr Venkatachala Heggade and president of Delhi Kannada educational institute Vasanth Shetty Bellare were the chief guests of the occasion.
Ronald Colaco said, "At present our society is divided due to the controversies, arguments, hatred towards one another, false propaganda and social anxiety. I feel that reading this book will reduce the anxiety that is present in the society now. Only then can we live harmoniously in the society. We should always respect our elders, our culture and our religion. That itself is human life. I thank both the professors who have given this wonderful book to us in English as well as Kannada languages."
Prof Purushotam Agarwal said, "Jawaharlal Nehru was a prolific writer, who has written around 64,000 to 65,000 pages. His articles are not limited for just reading. His writings are inspirational and respectful. He has studied the holy books like Ramayana, Mahabharatha, Shraddasana, Vasudeva Puthras, Bhagavadgita, books on Akbar and Ashoka and has transferred that knowledge to Indians. If we do not identify such a great personality, it is a loss for us."
In his presidential address Jairam Ramesh said, "This is a wonderful book. This contains the writings and speeches of one of the most intelligent prime ministers of our country. English language is very important. But Kannada language should also be given equal importance. Similarly Hindi also. This book has important details of Nehru's life. I appreciate the effort of Prof Purushotam in writing such a wonderful book. This is not a subject which needs to be invented by Congress party. Nehru is the emblem of India. He is not limited to Congress party alone. He is the wealth of the whole country. More research should be done in this regard cutting across political party lines."
Eminent personalities like C M Nagaraj, chief secretary of Delhi Kannada Sangha were present. Dr Venkatachala Heggade welcomed the gathering. Rehman Khan welcomed the guests by offering floral bouquets. Prof K E Radhkrishna introduced the guests, compered the event and rendered vote of thanks.
Nationalism, 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' being misused to construct militant idea of India: Manmohan Singh
Nationalism and the slogan of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' are being misused to construct a "militant and purely emotional" idea of India that excludes millions of residents and citizens, Dr Manmohan Singh said, in an apparent attack on the BJP.
Dr Singh said that if India is recognised in the comity of nations as a vibrant democracy and, if it is considered as one of the important world powers, it was the first prime minister, who should be recognised as its main architect.
Jawaharlal Nehru had led this country in its volatile and formative days when it adopted a democratic way of life, accommodating divergent social and political views, Manmohan Singh said.
India's first prime minister, who was very proud of Indian heritage, assimilated it, and harmonised them into the needs of a new modern India, he said.
"With an inimitable style, and a multi-linguist, Nehru laid the foundation of the universities, academies and cultural institutions of Modern India. But for Nehru's leadership, independent India would not have become what it is today," Manmohan Singh said.
"But unfortunately, a section of people who either do not have the patience to read history or would like to be deliberately guided by their prejudices, try their best to picture Nehru in a false light. But I am sure, history has a capacity to reject fake and false insinuations and put everything in proper perspective," he said.
"It is a book of particular relevance at a time when Nationalism and the slogan of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' are being misused to construct a militant and purely emotional idea of India that excludes millions of residents and citizens," he said.
Manmohan Singh also extensively quoted Nehru, saying he had asked, "Who is this Bharat Mata?, whose victory you wish?"
"The mountains and rivers, forests and fields are of course dear to everyone, but what counted ultimately is the people of India... spread out all over vast land," Manmohan Singh quoted Nehru as saying.
In the pages of this carefully complied anthology, Nehru emerges as a remarkable man of ideas and as a leader who, despite the compulsion's of politics, remained a true democrat, the former prime minister said.
Nehru's legacy continues to be of immense significance -- "perhaps more today than at any other time in our history", he said.
"The purpose of this book is to show to the entire world and more particularly to India, how Pandit Nehru and his idea of India, built on Gandhian principles, harmonising the past and the present free from communal discords, is the only way to promote the inevitable plurality of our country," he said.
Nehru makes a very significant and time-relevant remark on the dangers of leadership falling into a trap and getting removed far away from the common people whom they are supposed to serve, Manmohan Singh said.
"Conceit, like fat on the human body, grows imperceptibly, layer upon layer and the person whom it affects is unconscious of the daily accretion. Fortunately, the hard knocks of a mad world tone it down or even squash it completely, and there has been no lack of these hard knocks for us in India.
"The school of life has been difficult one, and suffering is a hard task master," he quoted Nehru as saying.
In an atmosphere, when emotions are deliberately provoked and the gullible are misled by false propaganda, misusing communication technology, this book makes a refreshing breakthrough, Manmohan Singh said.
With PTI inputs