Historical Perspective
The aspirations of the Indian people and their ideals go back a long way into history. The intermingling of religions and the interplay of cultures have been taking place in this ancient land for over three thousand years of recorded history and possibly before. This has given a certain dimension of tolerance to Indian thought and practice. A great renaissance movement swept over India when Mahatma Gandhi led the nation in its struggle for independence. As a result, the people at large became increasingly aware of their unity and their right to be free.
I have referred to the freedom struggle in India because it provides the necessary perspective from which one can understand India's development as a democratic nation, engaged in enriching its political freedom with economic and social content.
Like any other social institution, democracy is inevitably conditioned by political history, traditions and circumstances of the country as well as by the political, social and economic problems and pressures facing the country. The democratic method is being applied to the gigantic and complex task of agricultural, industrial, technological and social transformation. Whether in India or abroad, people have not realized fully the magnitude, complexity and immense difficulties involved in this venture.
Freedom and democracy require eternal vigilance as well as individual and social discipline, particularly in a developing country. Our fundamental objective is the removal of poverty and inequality and establishment of a society based on social justice.
As a nation, we have dedicated ourselves to these objectives. Our achievements in the transformation of our society have been steady and substantial. In the race between production and population, production has achieved a slight edge over the growth of population. In a country like India, agricultural production is not merely a function of technological advance or of putting together a scientifically valid package of inputs but also of social, administrative and even psychological changes.