(...Contd)

C. Subramaniam: The national scene is distressing. Communalism, casteism, regionalism and other divisive forces are again on the prowl...indiscipline and lethargy are also rampant. They appear to be poised to threaten the very existence of India. Pray, give guidance to root out these evils. Kindly suggest ways and means to restore national unity and health.

His Holiness: Are you referring to the recent riots at Moradabad, Srinagar and other places?

Dada Darmadhikari: Yes, besides the loss of several innocent lives and destruction of public property, this time the quarrel is not merely intercommunal but it seems to be a determined challenge to the executive arm of the State itself - in Moradabad to the police and in Srinagar to the military.

H..: In which party are you now?

C.S.: I have given up party politics, I no more belong to any party. I have, however, not given up public life. I am now striving to do some public service as a nonparty man.

H.H: I am glad you are no more attached to any political party. You are going through a process of purification for wider service. Who are the other well-known figures, who are non-attached to political parties like you?

C.S.: Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Acharya Kripalani, Shri Achyut Patwardhan, Dr. R. R. Diwakar, Dr. Chintaman Deshmukh are some of the seniors among them. Dada Dharmadhikari and Shri V. S. Page who are with us here, also belong to this category.

H.H.: Communalism, regionalism, corruption and all-round indiscipline are indeed grave dangers to our national unity. But communalism is the worst among them. The root cause for the re-emergence of communalism, even after the heart-rending partition of India, is the short-sighted, selfish approach of politicians and political parties. Those who genuinely love India and are earnest about ridding the body-politic of communalism, must unreservedly refuse to forge alliance with communal parties for the sake of gaining or retaining power. We have so far failed in eliminating communalism because all-India parties woo them for votes.

(Contd...)