The Secret of Progress
The rose plant is a sign of nature. At the same time, it serves as a powerful symbol that teaches us how to live in this world.
You know that a rose plant has both flowers and thorns. Every wise person picks the flowers and avoids the thorns. In the same way, life offers both pleasant and unpleasant experiences. Wisdom lies in embracing the pleasant and overlooking the unpleasant.
On 15 August 1992, the Prime Minister said in his address that we need a kind of moratorium—a mutual agreement to temporarily set aside our differences and work together based on common ground. Given the current climate, such a moratorium is deeply necessary for the progress of our country.
But in reality, this idea is not just for a few years—it reflects a complete way of life. Whether it is an individual or a nation, true progress is only possible when we adopt the principle of avoiding unnecessary conflict and making use of available opportunities.
Think of it this way: when you drive your vehicle on a road, you see many others driving as well. You don’t crash into them—you navigate carefully, making room for others while continuing your own journey.
This is exactly how life works. None of us lives in isolation. The world is filled with people, each moving forward on their own path. The secret of a successful life lies in respecting others, giving them space, and simultaneously continuing on your own path. Giving space to others is the surest way to ensure your own safe and successful journey.
India is a land of many religions and cultures. It is not possible to convert everyone to a single religion or cultural identity. Any attempt to do so will only damage the social fabric of the nation. Unity does not mean uniformity. Rather, unity in diversity is the principle that is both realistic and fruitful.
Today, the greatest need in our country is tolerance. Tolerance means that while firmly following your own path, you respect the path chosen by others. This principle has guided our nation for centuries, and it will continue to do so in the future. Whether it is within one community or across communities, tolerance is the key to peaceful coexistence.
Even in a family, if ten people are to live together peacefully, they must learn to show tolerance toward each other.
Two years ago, I visited Solapur. There, I heard a speech from a Hindu brother at a public event. He shared a beautiful story: his father was non-vegetarian, while his mother was vegetarian. But despite their dietary differences, they lived in complete harmony. Each morning, the mother would first prepare food for the father, serve it, then bathe and prepare her own vegetarian meal. This continued for years, and they lived a happy life.
This is the spirit on which a nation must be built. In public life, we must accept and respect each other. Just as we believe we have the right to live by our religion and culture, we must also grant that right to others. Differences should be treated as a reason for tolerance, not conflict. This is the only way to build a truly united nation.
Take, for example, a community that organises a public procession. Sometimes, people in such processions raise emotional slogans that others may find offensive. But the right response is not to resist or confront them. That only leads to escalation. If you choose to ignore it, the entire procession will end peacefully in a few minutes. But if you try to resist or block it, a simple event can turn into a destructive riot.
We must understand: in such a case, our real choice is not between procession and no procession, but between procession and riot. Trying to stop the procession doesn’t bring peace—it often brings greater violence and loss.
In today’s world, every person stands between two realities: on the one side, there are problems, and on the other, opportunities. This is the law of life, and no one can change it. The wise person is the one who ignores the problems and makes full use of the opportunities.
To ignore problems is to gain time for action. But getting caught in problems is like wasting the time you already have.
Akashvani Nagpur, 20 November 1992.
