We stand at the end of an era and on the threshold of a new period of history. Standing on this watershed which divides two epochs of human history and endeavour, we can look back on our long past and look forward to the future that is taking shape before our eyes. Asia, after a long period of quiescence, has suddenly become important again in world affairs.
In this crisis in world history, Asia will necessarily play a vital role. The countries of Asia can no longer be used as pawns by others; they are bound to have their own policies in world affairs. Europe and America have contributed very greatly to human progress and for that we must yield them praise and honour, and learn from them the many lessons they have to teach. But the West has also driven us into wars and conflicts without number, and even now, the day after a terrible war, there is talk of further wars in the atomic age that is upon us. In this atomic age, Asia will have to function effectively in the maintenance of peace.
Strong winds are blowing over all Asia. Let us not be afraid of them, but rather welcome them for only with their help can we build the new Asia of our dreams. Let us have faith in these great new forces and the dream which is taking shape. Let us, above all, have faith in the human spirit which Asia has symbolized for those long ages past.
These words are not of some Prime Minister or President of some Asian nation, made at some global summit in recent times. And even if he/she should have, it wouldn’t be completely inaccurate to claim so. For Asia is truly booming, maybe not entirely, maybe it has a skewed development quotient, but then even the West cannot claim that it conferred the awards of progress upon all its populace evenly at the same time. There are bound to be inequities, differences in the manner in which development progresses. But what needs to be applauded is that progress is being made, in baby steps, but nevertheless being made.
Detractors may say that the absence of a responsive and responsible democracy in China and the presence of an over-responsive Legislature in India don’t augur well for Asia’s future prospects per se. I’d say that things are changing, maybe not at the pace some desire, but it takes time for a mountain to rise from the earth, for a rivulet to transform into a river. So it is with the systems of governance in the above said countries.
Asia is looking great, and this time it’s gearing for a bigger pie of the scheme of things. Somewhere down the line, the words of our mystery speaker are coming true, which brings me back to ‘my’ initial sentence. The speaker was speaking at the Asian Conference in New Delhi. However, this wasn’t in recent times, not even 10 years back, nor 20. On the contrary, this speech was made on March 23, 1947, by the then Prime-Minister-elect, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. It took a wait of more than 50 years, but finally Nehru’s words are ringing true!
In this crisis in world history, Asia will necessarily play a vital role. The countries of Asia can no longer be used as pawns by others; they are bound to have their own policies in world affairs. Europe and America have contributed very greatly to human progress and for that we must yield them praise and honour, and learn from them the many lessons they have to teach. But the West has also driven us into wars and conflicts without number, and even now, the day after a terrible war, there is talk of further wars in the atomic age that is upon us. In this atomic age, Asia will have to function effectively in the maintenance of peace.
Strong winds are blowing over all Asia. Let us not be afraid of them, but rather welcome them for only with their help can we build the new Asia of our dreams. Let us have faith in these great new forces and the dream which is taking shape. Let us, above all, have faith in the human spirit which Asia has symbolized for those long ages past.
These words are not of some Prime Minister or President of some Asian nation, made at some global summit in recent times. And even if he/she should have, it wouldn’t be completely inaccurate to claim so. For Asia is truly booming, maybe not entirely, maybe it has a skewed development quotient, but then even the West cannot claim that it conferred the awards of progress upon all its populace evenly at the same time. There are bound to be inequities, differences in the manner in which development progresses. But what needs to be applauded is that progress is being made, in baby steps, but nevertheless being made.
Detractors may say that the absence of a responsive and responsible democracy in China and the presence of an over-responsive Legislature in India don’t augur well for Asia’s future prospects per se. I’d say that things are changing, maybe not at the pace some desire, but it takes time for a mountain to rise from the earth, for a rivulet to transform into a river. So it is with the systems of governance in the above said countries.
Asia is looking great, and this time it’s gearing for a bigger pie of the scheme of things. Somewhere down the line, the words of our mystery speaker are coming true, which brings me back to ‘my’ initial sentence. The speaker was speaking at the Asian Conference in New Delhi. However, this wasn’t in recent times, not even 10 years back, nor 20. On the contrary, this speech was made on March 23, 1947, by the then Prime-Minister-elect, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. It took a wait of more than 50 years, but finally Nehru’s words are ringing true!
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