| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| ওয়াশিংটনে প্রেসিডেণ্ট নিক্সন প্রদত্ত ভোজসভায় প্রধানমন্ত্রী ইন্দিরা গান্ধীর ভাষণ | ভারত সরকারের পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রণালয় | ৪ নভেম্বর, ১৯৭১ |
PRIME MINISTER INDIRA GANDHI’S SPEECH AT BANQUET BY
PRESIDENT NIXON IN A WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 4, 1971
This room is indeed full of history, as indeed is this house in which we are today. This house has been the home of many great men whose ideas and actions have influenced events far beyond the boundaries of the United States.
I remember how thrilled 1 felt as a small girl, when my father first introduced me to the stirring wards of Jefferson and Lincoln. Much has happened in the world since those days. There have been many ups and many downs. But certain ideas and certain ideals have held people together.
I think, although there is so much difference between your country and mine although many miles of land and ocean separate us, there is also much in common between our two peoples, we are both large societies, composed of diverse ethnic clements, proud of our regional diversity, resentful of imposed uniformity. Our peoples are friendly and generous, wanting to be liked, quick to give expression to their feelings, and equally ready to forgive.
Naturally, there have been differences of assessment and emphasis. And since our people and our legislatures live by speaking out, there have been moments of awkward candor. But let also remember that in both our societies the most forthright critics are within ourselves.
I think that a functioning democracy converts this weakness into strength. During our Fifth General ction March, to hich you referred so generously, Mr. President, our people demonstrated the ability of the democratic process to fine answers to national problems. They gave the nation a clear and coherent sense of direction, of renewed self-confidence in and a fresh impetus to our long struggle against poverty.
The instability of the 1960’s which had enervated our growth was overcome. Our plans have benefited by the long-range capital assistance and food aid so generously given by your country. Foreign aid is important because of its direct economic contribution and also as a symbol of the involvement of advanced nations, and more specially of the United States, in the developing world. But the effort in the progress of our country is overwhelmingly and increasingly that of the labor and sacrifice of our own people.
Today, we are self-sufficient in food grains. Net foreign credits constitute a small but useful part of our resources. All this was achieved not easily. And though we have smiled through these years, you know, Mr. President, how very difficult they were for India.
