The Congress is dedicated to fight these battles and that, really speaking, is the historical role of the Congress. It is not one fight. It is not a fight on one front. It is a war on hundred fronts that we have to wage. As ours is an ancient country it has ancient and chronic diseases also. We have to fight those diseases and fight them with balanced mind, with courage and with confidence. This alone can help us to come out successful in this fight. It is not merely a political struggle. Really speaking, what the Congress represents is not just the political urge of the people. What it represents today in the country — not only today but for the last 80/100 years —is our urge to modernise ourselves, to become modern members of a modern world, to create a new society based on the principles of equality, democracy and socialism. These are our ideals. But these ideals cannot be achieved by merely making pronouncements; I am quite aware of it. Towards that end we will have ultimately to think in terms of politics of dedication. I have always believed in one principle. It is said that at the present moment there is a crisis of confidence. Some people describe the situation and say that we are at cross-roads. Certainly we are passing through a period of political crisis in this country and the Congress has to think in terms of the future. What should we do? I have always followed a very interesting rule in the game of bridge. There is, in the game of bridge, a rule that whenever you are in doubt, 'play trump. I think that rule very well applies to the game of politics also. Because this is a game of fundamental politics. When you feel that you are in a crisis, think of fundamentals. And what is the fundamental thing for the Congress? The fundamental thing for the Congressmen has been to go and identify with the people at large. Theories aside, stand where the people are, identify yourself with the people — that is the important criteria. We will have to think in terms of programmes by which we will have to identify ourselves with the urges and aspirations of the large mass of have-nots, of the small tenants, of industrial labour and the youngmen in this country. If we do as we did in the twenties and thirties and forties, if we go back to the fundamental rule of identifying ourselves with the people and try to strengthen and revive the mass base of the party, I do not think the Congress will have any fear of the future.
