I have three visions for India.
In 3000 years of our history, people from all over the world have come and invaded us, captured our lands, conquered our minds. From Alexanderonwards. The Greeks, the Portuguese, the British, the French, the Dutch,all of them came and looted us, took over what was ours. Yet we have notdone this to any other nation. We have not conquered anyone. We have notgrabbed their land, their culture, their history and tried to enforce ourway of life on them. Why? Because we respect the freedom of others. Thatis why my first vision is that of FREEDOM.
I believe that India got its first vision of this in 1857, when we started the war of independence. It is this freedom that we must protect and nurture and built on. If we arenot free, no one will respect us.
My second vision for India is DEVELOPMENT. For fifty yearswe have been a developing nation. It is time we see ourselves as adeveloped nation. We are among top 5 nations of the world in terms of GDP.We have 10 percent growth rate in most areas. Our poverty levels arefalling, our achievements are being globally recognized today. Yet welack the self-confidence to see ourselves as a developed nation, self reliant and self assured. Isn't this right?
I have third vision. The India must stand up to theworld. Because I believe that unless India stands up to the world, no onewill respect us. Only strength respects strength. We must be strong notonly as a military power but also as an economic power. Both must gohand-in-hand. My good fortune was to have worked with three great minds.
