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Following are the excerpts from the valedictory address delivered by Defence Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the South Asian Regional Youth Convention on Non-Violence and Development at the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti in New Delhi today:-
Dear Shri R Venkatraman, Chairman, Gandhi Samiti, Professor Yashpal, Shri KV Rajan, Dr Savita Singh, Ladies & Gentleman. It is my privilege to deliver the valedictory address to an august audience, on a subject that is contextual to the South Asian Community under the aegis of an institution, whose objective is to propagate the life, mission and thought of the Father of the Nation -Mahatma Gandhi.
The audience comprises of eminent persons from South Asian Countries, educationist, personalities who have devoted their lives to the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and most importantly the youth of the South Asian region in whose hands lies the future of the region.
The topic of the convention South Asian Regional Youth Convention on Non-Violence and Development brings to the forefront the reality and the challenges of the region. The region today comprises of backward areas, displays low Human Development Indicators, and has large population living in poverty and hunger. This is also same region that had a rich past of Mathematics, Astronomy, Medicine, Architecture, Literature, Culture, Music, Dance and other performing arts.
Gandhi Smriti and Darshan aim to propagate the Father of the Nation - Mahatma Gandhi. Its activities include pooling together all resources to bring about Development social, economic and political encompassing all section of society - Children, Youth, Women and Special regions.
Humanity has now moved into the 21st century. The events of the first four years do not inspire confidence that the century will usher an era of all round peace. These four years have been turbulent when the peace prospects in a number of countries have been threatened, when the practice and possibilities of multi- culturalism appear to have been severely challenged.
We are standing at the cross roads where numerous challenges await us. The first and foremost is of course is peace. However, violence takes the form of terrorism and countries are not able to escape the threat. India has boldly faced the challenges of terrorism. It is also taking active steps to open a dialogue in J&K.
Both unrest and violence are in fact the outward manifestation of public disenchantment with the failure of the elite to improve the lot of the oppressed, the downtrodden, underprivileged sections and other marginalized groups.
The overriding concern of all should be to replace the cult of violence with the culture of peace. There is, a greater need today than ever before for innovative forward-looking approach to conflict resolution.
The loss of idealism amongst youth is disturbing. Why do some youth get lured on the wrong path and take to violence? What is it that helps create the terrorist personality, ethos and their world- view? It is time we ponder over these questions in search of plausible answers, for in these answers lies the chances of a misguided youth's journey back to the mainstream.
Mahatma Gandhi had great faith in the power of the youth. He laid great emphasis on the need for making an all-out effort at channelising the infinite energy lying latent in the youth on constructive lines. He understood the dynamics of social change that could be executed only through youth power. Youth have by nature greater fellow feeling and sympathy, which makes them ideal instruments of social change.
The different regions globally are finding solutions to their regional problems by coming together on a common platform. Common ability of the regions requires economic, social and political integration. This is possible only if the youth from all the South Asian countries participate and initiate a dialogue in search of plausible answers to the pressing problems their elders are grappling with.
The new generation is better placed to look beyond the narrow boundaries towards the regional well being. This is could be done by building up vocational, cultural, sports, professional, political and other links in the region. A South Asian community can be built up on these networks and common foundations. In fact the South Asian Community lives as a harmonious unit in countries like USA, UK, Singapore, mixing and interacting freely. This needs to be replicated in the South Asian region also.
Since 1985, the nations of South Asian Region have been striving to forge an alliance in multidimensional ways and means towards a better future for millions in South Asia. SAARC is one manifestation of such attempt. In addition there have been countless attempts at the person-to-person level. The onward process has started sporting a lot of potential for the future generations to reap the benefit of the present day doings. What we do today, our youth have to reap tomorrow. Nevertheless, they require proper guidance in many ways and directions, before they take up the challenge.
The youth must be made aware not only in the realm of knowledge about the commonality of the region: whether the Issues and concerns of development, poverty alleviation or its quest to find a place in the global village towards the realization of dreams of South Asian regional cooperation but, at the same time, they must be prepared thoroughly to rise to the occasion and make sacrifices, when the time of reckoning comes.
What could be better than the Gandhian orientation of our youth at the beginning? Any preparation that is carried out within the Gandhian thought and philosophy shall carry with it the essentials of a better human being, inevitable to be better carrier of moral, material and intellectual development of human kind. This should also rid the region of violence, following the path of the greatest proponent of Non-Violence.
It gives me great pleasure to see that Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, the national memorial of Mahatma Gandhi in pursuance of the declaration of its GLOBAL CONVENTION ON PEACE AND NONVIOLENCE held on 31st January and 1st February 2004 at Vigyan Bhavan has developed a comprehensive programme for the integrated development and training of youth of South Asia. The three-day South Asian Regional Youth Convention on Non-violence and Development is a step in the direction towards ushering an era of peace and mutual cooperation. It is hoped that the Convention would help in the propagation of the Gandhian Ideals and understanding vis-à-vis the significance and need for regional and global cooperation towards a non violent and a peaceful world for a prosperous humanity.
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