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The
Vegetarian World Forum
No. 2 Vol. XI - SUMMER 1957
pp.16-17:
TO THE PRIME MINISTER
OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA
MR. JAWAHARLAL NEHRU
WESTERN governments still treat you with a cautious reserve. This is
because you always try
to bring high principles into human affairs - and it is unsettling for nations
motivated largely
by political expediency and the rightness of force. May I assure you that
there are many
people in Britain who are filled with admiration for your courageous stand
and your lone voice of
statesmanship.
We look to India to permeate international relationships with the wisdom
which is your
country's inheritance - so miraculously preserved down the ages and through
times of conquest by
barbarians. And here I would say that many of us were not happy about things
done in our name,
but nevertheless hope for your forgiveness and the opportunity to work in
harmony for the good
of all.
Our message and prayer is that you remain steadfast to the unique Indian concept of non-violence.
Great hydro-electric schemes, automobiles, refrigerators and the comforts
of modern inventive
ness can enrich the life of a people - but please do not allow India to make
the Western mistake
of letting these things become ends in themselves.
India knows, better than all other nations, that the purpose of life is
spiritual evolution.
It is right that everyone should have a good standard of living, hygienic
conditions, opportunity
for education and social security. Perhaps industrialization, for which you
work so hard, is the
only practical way of achieving these things - the world and human nature
being what they are -
but we hope you will profit by our mistakes and never let material wealth
overshadow the things
of the spirit, in which India is so rich.
You bear the awful weight of leadership for the Indian people. May you
be sustained by the
knowledge that you have the admiration of millions of people, all over the
world, who look to you
to bring the wisdom of the East into international affairs.
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