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Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha, New Delhi

In international conferences organised by Gorakhpur and Rajkot universities, I was asked who the most powerful person on this earth is. I had replied that the most powerful man is he who remains smiling and gives happiness to all. Secondly, men who can plea for forgiveness and can forgive others are also powerful.

I was recently in Sri Lanka as part of a parliamentary delegation and I have given a proposal, which pivots around the theme - ‘no conflict, no violence.’

Historically, India had two types of borders – one was not guarded heavily by the army and was mainly manned by the police force. The border with Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Maldives, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka may be counted within this type. But when India achieved independence, Pakistan broke off and there has been a constant tension on that frontier. We had shared a peaceful border with Tibet. But in 1959, Dalai Lama sought asylum in India and tensions escalated.

I hope conflicts and violence can be eroded from Asia and particularly from South Asia because we have dealt for 70 years with Pakistan and for 40 years, with China. Money has been spent but tensions remain.

As part of the recent delegation, I had requested the Sri Lankan government to work closely with the SAARC. Many of the SAARC countries can be engaged socially and culturally by India and this will forge closeness.  

In 2017, China talked about small war whereas India talked about peace and dialogue and ultimately our stance emerged victorious. It is one of our biggest achievements that we have established war can be avoided through dialogue and peace. More efforts should be put to ensure greater dialogue for the promotion of peace. I believe India should be without any borders. It will only be police borders. I say that we were together, we are together, and we will be together.

I was again in one university in Singapore and the seminar was on the topic ‘World with Conflicts and World without Conflicts’ and one Indian asked me, “In 1947, did we get independence or did we get partitioned?” When the British left India, they never left any document of independence but there were documents of partition. Jinnah signed that document as he wanted Pakistan. But India thought about independence and not about the creation of Pakistan. But we got independence and Pandit Nehru had to accept partition.

Three of India’s foremost leaders, Gandhiji, Vinoba Bhave and B.R. Ambedkar did not attend the independence ceremony organised in the Red Fort as they felt that the independence was not what we deserved. These three great men did not celebrate this independence and called it a partition.

India is multicultural and multilingual. It has different faiths and can be the true leader of world peace. The US tried to be the leader of the war against terrorism and so did China. Ultimately, India could succeed in uniting 134 countries against terror during the Geneva Conference. Only 34 countries had joined the US in its war against terrorism. When China tried to lead against terror, only 22 countries joined.

I have had dialogues in more than 24 Muslim countries and have interacted with 14-15 lakh Muslims directly. I have talked in more than six Christian countries. I have also spoken in Buddhist countries. Everybody wants peace, love, and development.  The basic need is bread for all, education for all, security for all, and health for all. It can only be possible when there is peace, brotherhood, and love between people, between countries and between religions. I hope this confluence will lead to that. Jai Bharat, Jai Vishwa.