Srinagar, May 2: Dr Farooq Abdullah today said that India will progress only when it holds on to its secular nature. He said the India of Mahatma Gandhi is the need of the hour, and people of Kashmir and entire India must be proud of diversity.
Speaking at the book release of Healer in Exile: the Untold Story of Dr Sushil Razdan, Dr Farooq said: Morarji Desai, while visiting SKIMS Soura, during its inception said, “It is not brick and mortar that will make this institution, but the people that will work here.” We are lucky to have Dr Razdan and his likes from the institute that made it proud.
He said Kashmir is complete with all its people, Hindus, Sikhs and others, apart from Muslims. He urged that people need to understand that divisive forces are trying to sow discord between people. “We have never bought two nation theory, nor will we,” he said.
He urged that India will progress only when we remember that India is Unity in Diversity. “If we do not believe and protect our diversity, we will never progress as a nation,” he said. He said this is the path that Kashmir must follow, and the entire nation must follow. He said the path of Mahatma Gandhi must be followed, and wished that he lives till the day India progresses as an inclusive and diverse nation. “recall the ray of light that Gandhi saw coming from Kashmir,” he said.
Dr Farooq praised the work Sachin Razdan, the author of the book, was doing for children with special needs. He lauded the work of Vijay Dhar in making the education of children with special needs exemplary. “We just had a vision impaired girl securing a position from Dhar Sahab’s school,” he said. He said such initiatives needed to be encouraged and multiplied so that more and more children are helped by professional expertise.
