We should take it more as a challenge for action, for scientific and economic progress. I do not know what exactly is happening in the United States of America about supplies of uranium fuel which is before U. R. C. There seems to be some sort of an understanding among the developed countries in this regard only because India conducted a peaceful nuclear explosion. We have said that we do not want to make nuclear weapons. It is not our policy. But at the same time, we do not want to give up our right to have peaceful nuclear experiment because it is for peaceful purpose and this has been accepted by the scientists. This the trend. At one time, our Prime Minister made a very profound observation in this regard. She said that historically, we have missed the industrial revolution, but we do not want to miss the technological revolution. This is a very important observation.
We missed the industrial revolution and came the dark era of imperialism and colonialism. This is the time when we should keep pace with the advancing technology. We should make our own efforts in this direction. We should not be deterred and we should pursue our policy and be partners in the technological revolution. This alone would keep India what it is today and this alone would make India what we want India to be. We do not want to become a power in the sense the word ‘power’ is used. We certainly want India to be strong. We certainly want India to live in peace and work for co-operation. But this can be done only through our participation in the technological revolution. Canada’s attitude is certainly a warning in that direction. We should take note of this warning and take it well. The developing countries should take it, not as a warning to India, but as a warning to all of them. My colleague has participated in certain international economic conferences. So have, I. We see them talk in very plausible terms, but when it comes to the question to taking decisions on very vital matters there are hesitations. There are hesitations on transfer of technology because technology also means, in economic terms, further development and expansion of trade and also alloting a fair share in that trade. And the developed nations do not want to make it easy for you to get your own share in the expanding world trade. I think the way world trade has expanded after the Second World War is unique. Therefore, developing countries and the non-alignment countries have to see that we are not denied our share of the technology. Nobody possibly would be too willing to give it to us and you cannot also take it by compulsion. I think as human beings we all have got talent, and capacities as people of developed countries have. But it is a question of time. They have got the advantage of early start of 200 years. That is our initial disadvantage. But I am sure that if we work hard towards this end and I think we will gear up our economic policy, our commerce policy and our foreign policy, ultimately we will succeed. I have said it before and I would like to repeat that ultimately the success and strength of our foreign policy depends upon the strength of our internal political, economic and scientific policies and, therefore, just as we take care of our foreign policy postures and our relations with the different countries we have to take care of these also and ultimately these are the basic forces of strength for India. If we strengthen them we will be strengthening India and the Indian people and it is the strength of the Indian people that would make the Indiana foreign policy a strong foreign policy and a successful foreign policy.
