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9:07 AM
am delighted to be amidst you at the India-Cambridge Summit. The vision of Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge, in organizing this Summit is commendable.
Knowledge empowers. Knowledge creates that fertile ground where ideas grow. Ideas are the most effective game changers. History stands witness to those great ideas which, over centuries, have impacted human lives for the better, in every field.
Here lies the relevance of Cambridge. For last 800 years it has constantly excelled as the centre of higher learning with uncompromising standards of education, transforming knowledge to generate ideas for the benefit of our world. Cambridge undoubtedly has been a game changer. Many of its alumni have played a leading role in India's struggle for independence and later, in guiding the destiny of this young nation with ancient roots.
Our journey during the last 65 years has not been easy. The challenges posed by a vast and rapidly growing population- a possible Malthusian Nightmare, poverty, backwardness, illiteracy and a society fragmented into castes and classes collude to confound us. Yet, we have moved ahead. We have moved ahead because our multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-lingual nation, which many may perceive as an unmanageable disadvantage, is innatelyस्वाभाविक रूप से our strength. We have moved ahead because we believe in the idea of democracy - a system which gives expression to the hopes and aspirations, pains and anguish of our people.
In today’s global age India has made its mark by the resilience(y) the physical property of a material that can return to its original shape or position after deformation that does not exceed its elastic limitof its dynamic economy and the strength of its democracy. Our economy has bravedसाहसपूर्वक सामना करना the rigoursकठिनाई of global recession and borne the onslaught of the current economic slowdown which threatens to cripple financial systems across the globe. Notably, India is being widely acknowledged as among the fastest growing economies of the world with potential for further growth.
However, there is another reality that underlies and runs parallel to a thriving, modernizing India and perhaps even sustains it. My constituency, Sasaram in Bihar, is essentially rural with hardworking people struggling to be a part of India’s growth story. This is true for many parts of India. Each visit to the interiors of rural India or a heaving urban slum is a recurring reminder to me that this high performance of our economy must be balanced with equity and inclusiveness. The litmus test for an egalitarian society is that the fruits of development must reach the disadvantaged and the marginalized. This was also the vision that my father Babu Jagjivan Ram shared with Gandhiji.
Why did we so easily accept and embrace democracy? Looking back, I feel that India could not possibly have opted for any other political system, especially if we, as a young nation, were to achieve the goals of social cohesion and inclusive growth. At the threshold of Independence, it became critical to inculcate a sense of empowerment and a sense of belonging in each and every Indian. Democracy offered a chance to participate in nation building irrespective of caste, class, religion or gender. Besides, elections are a great levelerबराबर करना with one vote each for the humblest and the mightiest. During the general elections hundreds of millions of voters of India create the largest level playing field in the world. These are also very joyous occasions celebrated with the fervour of a festival. In my constituency, I see women dressed in their best fineries, vermillionसिंदूरी रंग का bindis blazing on their foreheads going to the polling booths singing songs composed especially for the voting day. For some years, these elections have also become green elections. By using electronic voting machines, we have drastically reduced consumption of paper and consequent felling of trees.
There are forms of dissent, which occasionally make the Parliament turbulent. At times these turbulences reach such extremes that concerns, with varying degrees of intensity, are widely expressed. I too think deeply about it. But my worst fears are assuaged
- हलका करना
ठंडा कर देना
when I meet ordinary people of my country. And if I can read them correctly, they would always fiercely guard this hallowed institution because they have stakes in it. They would, I am sure, eventually prevail upon their representatives in the Parliament to run it smoothly.
In many countries, we see, there are uprisings, blood soaked revolutions by people demanding right to vote, fair elections and a proper parliament. A democracy that functions is in demand. Those of us who already have it, are extremely fortunate and must value it.
Before I conclude, I would like to express my appreciation for Professor Sir Borysiewicz and the organizers for giving me the opportunity to associate myself with the event. I am confident that you will have a very fruitful discussion and provide a deeper insight into the opportunities that India offers and its complex challenges and problems.
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