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dated October 18, 1955: Casteism must go: Nehru

Addressing a rally of students on the lawns of the Raj Bhavan in Calcutta on October 16, Prime Minister Nehru declared that there was no place for casteism in a democracy. "You must not think in terms of individuals or grown-ups, but should think in terms of 360 million people of this country. If you wish to advance these people to progress, you must have certain basic principles of character. No nation can prosper unless it has this basic character." Reminding the students that it was Mahatma Gandhi, who gave the nation the character and fearlessness and trained them up to make sacrifices, he said, "If today we are admired in other countries it is because of Gandhiji. I am, therefore, anxious that we should have that character and fearlessness and should be able to think not in a parochial or sectarian way, but with a sense of duty towards all." Urging the people to realise what was happening in the country, Mr. Nehru said, "Don't be misled into thinking that revolution means only violence. It means a major change, either in political, economic or social field. As a matter of fact, the bloodshed that took place in some of the countries during the sudden changeover was not during the revolution but after it. The Indian revolution, which drove the British rulers out, brought about a change. The people of India acted in a particular way under a great leader. It was undoubtedly a great revolution, in spite of the fact that it was brought about in a peaceful way. The people should recognise these changes and give up their old stereotyped ideas about the country and themselves."

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