By Victor Asije
Lagos – The Vice-President of India, Mr Hamid Ansari, says the current democratic image of his country is due to ideals of the Indian National Movement.
Ansari, who presented a lecture on ‘’The Legacy of India’s National Movement’’ at the University of Lagos on Thursday, said that each country and people must shape their destinies in their own ways.
According to him, much of the gain from the movement is enshrined in India’s constitution and has continued to shape the political and judicial discourse of the country.
“The image of the modern Indian nation is in the crucible of our struggle from colonial rule or what we now call the Indian National Movement.
‘’Our people have tended to use this legacy as the yardstick for assessing performance of governments, political parties and institutions.
‘’Our National Movement was more than a struggle for independence. It is an exercise in building a nation.
‘’The movement was to replace a colonial regime and to deliver political power to Indians. It was aimed at securing social and economic justice and dignity for every Indian,’’ he said.
Ansari extolled the exemplary role of Mohandas Gandhi, whose singular effort transformed the campaign into a true mass movement.
The vice-president said that one of the lasting legacies of the national movement was the rise in Indian nationalism and creation of an Indian identity.
He also disclosed that Indian leaders had always acknowledged India’s rich cultural, linguistic, religious, ethnic and regional diversity.
‘’ Legacies do endure, but no legacy, however, can last forever.
‘’It is for this reason that our youths should have a sense of history and know that their aspirations are built on the sacrifice and toil of others,’’ he said.
Edited by Oluwole Sogunle