KANNUR: Social critic Sukumar Azhikode has said that Jawaharlal Nehru is a concept that still lives in the hearts of millions and has emerged as a synonym of the nation's statesmanship of his period.

Delivering the Nehru memorial lecture organised by the Jawaharlal Public Library and Research Centre here on Tuesday, Prof. Azhikode said the country was in need of a philosophy that combined the visions of Nehru and Gandhiji.

Failure of Congress

Referring to attempts to `denigrate' Nehru's image in a book India Betrayed: The Role of Nehru, he said that even the Congress failed to uphold the ideals of Nehru. Stating that the country had diluted Nehru's foreign policy and his concept of `panchsheel', he said that India was now seen as making compromise with the policies of the U.S. led by George Bush. "There is now a great decline in the values upheld by Nehru," he said.

Prof. Azhikode said that India's diplomatic ties with China would not have been smoother if Nehru's statesman-like stance on the country's relationship with the neighbouring country was rejected.

Nehru understood the ancient historical ties of the country with China, he added.

He exuded confidence that the annual observation of Nehru Jayanti would prevent the Government from totally capitulating to the interests of the U.S.

Globalisation was a new form of imperialism that sought to control an economy, he pointed out.

Nehru's contribution

Earlier, inaugurating the closing ceremony of the Nehru Jayanti celebration being organised by the library, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said that Nehru's great contribution to the country was secularism.

It was still relevant as the country was facing threats from communalism and extremism. Programmes such as the Five Year Plan demonstrated Nehru's vision about the country and its teeming millions, he said.

Left parties who opposed Nehru during his lifetime were now voicing support for his views, Mr. Chandy said.

Pannian Ravindran, MP, District Collector Ishita Roy, P.P. Lakshmanan and D.P. Damodaran were present at the function.

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