“Friends and fellow Asians! What has
brought you here, men and women of Asia? Why have you come from the various
countries of this mother continent of ours and gathered together in the ancient
city of Delhi? Some of us, greatly daring, sent you invitation for this
Conference and you gave a warm welcome to that invitation. And yet it was not
merely that call from us but some deeper urge that brought you here.
We stand at the end of an era and on the
threshold of a new period of history. Standing on this watershed which divides
two epochs of human history and endeavour, we can look back on our long past
and look forward to the future that is taking shape before our eyes. Asia,
after a long period of quiescence, has suddenly become important again in world
affairs. If we view the millennia of history, this continent of Asia, with
which Egypt has been so intimately connected in cultural fellowship, has played
a mighty role in the evolution of humanity. It was there that civilization
began and man started on his unending adventure of life. Here the mind of man
searched unceasingly for truth and the spirit of man shone out like a beacon
which lightened up the whole world.
" This dynamic Asia
from which great streams of culture flowed in all directions, gradually became
static and unchanging. "
This dynamic Asia from which great
streams of culture flowed in all directions, gradually became static and
unchanging. Other peoples and other continents came to the fore and with their
dynamism spread out and took possession of great parts of the world. This
mighty continent became just a field for the rival imperialisms of Europe, and
Europe became the centre of history and progress in human affairs.
A change is coming over the scene now
and Asia is again finding herself. We live in a tremendous age of transition
and already the next stage takes shape when Asia takes her rightful place with
the other continents.
It is at this great moment that we meet
here and it is the pride and privilege of the people of India to welcome their
fellow Asians from other countries, to confer with them about the present and
the future, and lay the foundation of our mutual progress, well-being and
friendship.
The idea of having an Asian Conference
is not new and many people have thought of it. It is indeed surprising that it
should not have been held many years earlier, yet perhaps the time was not ripe
for it and any attempt to do so would have been superficial and not in tune
with world events. It so happened that we in India convened this Conference,
but the idea of such a Conference arose simultaneously in many minds and in
many countries of Asia. There was a widespread urge and an awareness that the
time had come for us, peoples of Asia, to meet together, to hold together and
to advance together. It was not only a vague desire but a compulsion of events
that forced all of us to think along these lines. Because of this, the
invitation we in India sent out brought an answering echo and a magnificent
response from every country of Asia.
" Perhaps one of
the notable consequences of the European domination of Asia has been the
isolation of the countries of Asia from one another. "
We welcome you delegates and
representatives from China, that great country to which Asia owes so much and
from which so much is expected; from Egypt and the Arab countries of western
Asia, inheritors of a proud culture which spread far and wide and influenced
India greatly; from Iran whose contacts with India go back to the dawn of
history; from Indonesia and Indo-China whose history in intertwined with
India’s culture, and where recently the battle of freedom has continued — a
reminder to us that freedom must be won and cannot come as a gift; from Turkey
that has been rejuvenated by the genious of a great leader; from Korea and
Mongolia, Siam, Malaya and the Philippines; from the Soviet Republics of Asia
which have advanced so rapidly in our generation and which have so many lessons
to teach us; from our neighbors Afghanistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma and
Ceylon to whom we look especially for co-operation and close and friendly
intercourse. Asia is very well represented at this Conference, and if one or
two countries have been unable to send representatives, this was due to no lack
of desire on their part or ours, but circumstances beyond our control came in
the way. We welcome also observers from Australia and New Zealand because we
have many problems in common, especially in the Pacific and in the Southeast
region of Asia, and we have to co-operate together to find solutions.
As we meet here today, the long past of
Asia rises up before us, the troubles of recent years fade away, and a thousand
memories revive. But I shall not speak to you of these past ages with their
glories and triumphs and failures, nor of more recent times which have
oppressed us so much and which still pursue us in some measure.
During the past two hundred years we
have seen the growth of Western imperialism and of the reduction of large parts
of Asia to colonial or semi-colonial status. Much has happened during these
years, but perhaps one of the notable consequences of the European domination
of Asia has been the isolation of the countries of Asia from one another. India
always had contacts and intercourse with her neighbor countries in the
Northwest, the Northeast, the East and the Southeast. With the coming of
British rule in India these contacts were broken off and India was almost
completely isolated from the rest of Asia. The old land routes almost ceased to
function and our chief window to the outer world looked out on the sea routes
which led to England. A similar process affected the other countries of Asia
also. Their entire economy was bound up with some European imperialism or
other; even culturally they looked towards Europe and not to their own friends
and neighbors from whom they had derived so much in the past.
Today this isolation is breaking down
because of many reasons, political and other. The old imperialisms are fading
away. The land routes have revived and air travel suddenly brings us very near
to each other. This Conference itself is significant as an expression of that
deeper urge to the mind and spirit of Asia which has persisted in spite of the
isolationism which grew up during the years of European domination. As that
domination goes, the walls that surrounded us fall down and we look at each
other again and meet as old friends long parted.
In this Conference and in this work
there are no leaders and no followers. All countries of Asia have to meet
together on an equal basis in a common task and endeavour. It is fitting that
India should play her part in this new phase of Asian development. Apart from
the fact that India herself is emerging into freedom and independence, she is
the compelling factor, and a geographically she is so situated as to be the
meeting point of western and northern and eastern and southeast Asia. Streams
of culture have come to India from the west and the east and been absorbed in
India, producing the rich and variegated culture which is India today. At the
same time, streams of culture have flowed from India to distant parts of Asia.
If you would know India you have to go to Afghanistan and Western Asia, to
Central Asia, to China and Japan and to the countries of Southeast Asia. There
you will find magnificent evidence of the vitality of India’s culture which
spread out and influenced vast numbers of people.
There came the great cultural stream
from Iran to India in remote antiquity. And then the constant intercourse
between India and the Far East, notably China. In later years Southeast Asia
witnessed an amazing efflorescence of Indian art and culture. The mighty stream
which started from Arabia and developed as a mixed Irano-Arabic culture poured
into India. All these came to us and influenced us and yet so great was the
powerful impress of India’s own mind and culture that it could accept them
without being itself swept away or overwhelmed. Nevertheless we all changed in
the process and in India today all of us are mixed products of these various
influences. An Indian, wherever he may go in Asia, feels a sense of kinship
with the land he visits and the people he meets.
" The countries of
Asia can no longer be used as pawns by others; they are bound to have their own
policies in world affairs. "
I do not wish to speak to you of the
past but rather of the present. We meet here not to discuss our past history
and contacts but to forge links for the future. And may I say here that this
Conference, and the idea underlying it, is no way aggressive or against any other
continent or country. Ever since news of this Conference went abroad some
people in Europe and America have viewed it with doubt imagining that this was
some kind of a Pan-Asian movement directed against Europe or America. We have
no designs against anybody; ours is the great design of promoting peace and
progress all over the world. For too long we Asia have been petitioners in
Western courts and chancellories. That story must now belong to the past. We
propose to stand on our own feet and to co-operate with all others who are
prepared to co-operate with us. We do not intend to be the plaything of others.
In this crisis in world history Asia
will necessarily play a vital role. The countries of Asia can no longer be used
as pawns by others; they are bound to have their own policies in world affairs.
Europe and America have contributed very greatly to human progress and for that
we must yield them praise and honour, and learn from them the many lessons they
hay to teach. But the West has also driven us into wars and conflicts without
number and even now, the day after a terrible war, there is talk of further
wars in the atomic age that is upon us. In this atomic age Asia will have to
function effectively in the maintenance of peace. Indeed there can be no peace
unless Asia plays her part. There is today conflict in many countries, and all
of us in Asia are full of our own troubles. Nevertheless, the whole spirit and
outlook of Asia are peaceful, and the emergence of Asia in world affairs will
be powerful influence for world peace.
Peace can only come when nations are
free and also when human beings everywhere have freedom and security and
opportunity. Peace and freedom, therefore, have to be considered both in their
political and economic aspects. The countries of Asia, we must remember, are
very backward and the standards of life are appallingly low. These economic
problems demand urgent solution or else crisis and disaster might overwhelm us.
We have, therefore, to think in terms of the common man and fashion our
political, social, and economic structure so that the burdens that have crushed
him be removed, and he may have full opportunity for growth.
We have arrived at a stage in human
affairs when the ideal of that ‘One World’ and some kind of a world federation
seems to be essential though there are many dangers and obstacles in the way.
We should work for that ideal and not any grouping which comes in the way of
this larger world group. We therefore support the United Nations structure
which is painfully emerging from its infancy. but in order to have ‘One World’,
we must also in Asia think of the countries of Asia co-operating together for
that larger ideal.
This conference, in a small measure,
represents this bringing together of the countries of Asia. Whatever it may
achieve, the mere fact of its taking place is itself of historic significance.
Indeed this occasion is unique in history for never before has such a gathering
met together at any place. So even in meeting we have achieved much and I have
no doubt that out of this meeting greater things will come. When the history of
our present times is written, this event may well stand out as a landmark which
divides the past of Asia from the future. And because we are participating in
this making of history something of the greatness of historic events comes to
us all.
" We shall not
discuss the internal politics of any country because that is rather beyond the
scope of our present meeting. "
This Conference will split up into
committees and groups to discuss various problems which are common concerns to
all of us. We shall not discuss the internal politics of any country because
that is rather beyond the scope of our present meeting. Naturally we are
interested in these internal politics because they act and react on each other,
but we may not discuss them at this stage, for if we do so, we may lose
ourselves in interminable arguments and complications. We may fail to achieve
the purpose for which we have met. I hope that out of this Conference some
permanent Asian Institute for the study of common problems and to bring about
closer relations will emerge; also perhaps a School of Asian Studies. further,
we might be able to organise interchange of visits and exchanges of students
and professors so that we might know each other better. There is much else we
can do, but I shall not venture to enumerate all the subjects for it is for you
to discuss them and arrive at some decisions.
We seek no narrow nationalism.
Nationalism has a place in each country and should be fostered, but it must not
be allowed to become aggressive and come in the way of international
development. Asia stretches her hand out in friendship to Europe and America as
well as to our suffering brethren in Africa. We must help them to take their rightful
place in the human family. The freedom that we envisage is not to be confined
to this nation or that or to a particular people, but must spread out over the
whole human race. That universal human freedom cannot also be based in the
supremacy of any particular class. It must be the freedom of the common man
everywhere and full of opportunities for him to develop.
We think today of the great architects
of Asian freedom — Sun Yat-sen, Zaghlul Pasha, the Ataturk Kemal Pasha and
others, whose labours have borne fruit. We think also of that great figure
whose labours and whose inspiration have brought India to the threshold of her
independence — Mahatma Gandhi. We miss him at this Conference and I yet hope
that he may visit us before our labours end. He is engrossed in the service of
the common man in India, and even this Conference could not drag him away from
it.
All over Asia we are passing through
trials and tribulations. In India also you will see conflict and trouble. Let
us not be disheartened by this: this is inevitable in an age of mighty
transition. There is a new vitality and powerful creative impulse in all the
peoples of Asia. The masses are awake and demand their heritage. Strong winds
are blowing all over Asia. Let us not be afraid of them but rather welcome them
for only with their help can we build the new Asia of our dreams. Let us have
faith in these great new forces and the things which are taking shape. Above
all let us have faith in the human spirit which Asia symbolised for these long ages
past.”
(Jawaharlal Nehru)
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