Words of Wonder by Jawaharlal Nehru

"Our lives are encumbered with the dead wood of this past;
all that is dead and has served its purpose has to go.
But that does not mean a break with,
or a forgetting of, the vital and life-giving in that past.

We can never forget the ideals that have moved our race,
the dreams of the Indian people through the ages,
the wisdom of the ancients,
the buoyant energy and love of life and nature of our forefathers,
their spirit of curiosity and mental adventure,
the daring of their thought,
their splendid achievements in literature,
art and culture,
their love of truth and beauty and freedom,
the basic values that they set up,
their understanding of life's mysterious ways,
their toleration of other ways than theirs,
their capacity to absorb other peoples and their cultural accomplishments,
to synthesise them and develop a varied and mixed culture;

nor can we forget the myriad experiences which have built up our ancient race and lie embedded in our sub-conscious minds.

We will never forget them or cease to take pride in that noble heritage of ours.
If India forgets them she will no longer remain India
and much that has made her our joy and pride will cease to be."

Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India and played a central role in Indian politics before and after independence. He emerged as the leader of the Indian Independence movement under the tutelage of Mahatma Gandhi. He rebuilt India with his bare hands, stitching up its foreign policy and glueing back Indians’ feeling of self worth. The India he envisioned is much similar to the India of today.

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