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dated May 14, 1957: Radhakrishnan's warning

Replying to felicitations in the Rajya Sabha on his re-election as Vice-President and Chairman of the House, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan warned that if a dynamic, courageous and imaginative leadership was not available during the next five years, "our position at the end will be worse than what it happens to be today." Drawing pointed attention to the existence of "the caste problem, the communal passions and the craze for power and personal ambition," he said, "If we want to realise our goal of a socialist society, we have to institute a search into ourselves and realise that we are divided not by external forces but our own inward nature. We have done with justified pride a great deal of work - the integration of States, land reforms, construction of dams, hydro-electric projects, scientific laboratories - all these things will stand to our credit. But we should also realise that we cannot afford to be smug and complacent. We cannot live in a world of make-believe. As a people, we tend to deceive ourselves a great deal. It is necessary for us to note the warnings that have been given to us, the demoralisation that has set in, things that have come out in the recent elections. The conditions in the country cannot be allowed to drift. The warnings are very clear." Earlier, the Home Minister, Pandit Pant, paying tributes to Dr. Radhakrishnan, said, "You have filled this office with unique distinction. You have treated every member with tender consideration and even affection. The proceedings have been conducted with unerring dignity and grace."

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