Today, everybody in the sub-continent wants peace

Somnath Chatterjee, The Speaker, Lok Sabha: Inaugural Address at the 7th Joint Convention of the Pakistan-India Forum for Peace and Democracy, New Delhi, 25 February 2005.

Friends, India and Pakistan are bound together by history. We belong to a single civilizational milieu and our people share a rich cultural heritage. In the modern context too, the complementarities that exist between our two countries in different areas are too large to be ignored. As developing countries, we both have to confront more or less similar socio-economic challenges. Yet, in spite of these historical, cultural, social and economic commonalities, which bind the people in everlasting ties, some authorities and concerns in the two countries are trying to divide the people on the basis of assumed differences than bringing them closer.

Our bilateral relations have seen many ups and downs since we both became independent. The baggage of history has bogged us down most often, thwarting the genuine wishes of the ordinary people across the borders to live in peace and harmony. Even in such trying circumstances, many well-meaning people in our two countries have endeavoured to break out of the supposed fetters imposed by history and promote goodwill among all, believing strongly that greater people-to-people contacts will enable better understanding and harmony. Even during difficult times in our relationship, such well-meaning persons kept the flame of friendship burning, so that a new dawn breaks over the South-Asian horizon, a dawn, bringing in its wake, peace, progress and prosperity to the people of the region. Let us salute these visionaries and activists who strive for friendship and fraternity and are working ceaselessly against many odds to realize that dream. And the Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy occupies a pride of place among these sagacious leaders.

Friends, it is universally acknowledged that peace, democracy and development are interdependent and inseparable. Our two countries have many socio-economic ills afflicting their body politic. Our socio-economic indicators leave much to be desired, even after five decades of freedom. Decision makers and policy planners in the two countries will have to work hard to shed the tag of underdevelopment. We need to prioritize areas of developmental concern and work relentlessly to achieve growth with equity. Increasingly, more and more people in our countries have voiced this view. When public opinion becomes more strident in favour of peace and progress, it will impact on the political leadership as well. And therein lies the key to open new vistas of consultation, cooperation and confidence building.

Apart from measures taken by our Governments from time to time, the overwhelming interest shown by our businessmen, peace activists, academics, media personnel, women activists, writers, artistes and sports personalities in promoting peace and harmony has generated a great degree of confidence and trust among our peoples. As you all know, there is a groundswell of goodwill among our peoples on which we should build the edifice of trust and brotherhood. We have great traditions in language, literature, fine arts, music, dance and films. The people of our two countries yearn to enjoy their rich traditions. The great response to festivals of music and dance of visiting troupes is an indication of this enthusiasm for our common cultural heritage which we should heartily encourage.

Today, everybody in the sub-continent wants peace. The man on the street, the businessman, the industrialist, the sportsman, the writer, the film star and the musician – and many others -- both in India and Pakistan, are having the same dream of peace and amity. Our approach to the peace process must always be constructive and forward-looking, and in favour of understanding, flexibility and accommodation. The sub-continent is currently going through a period of unprecedented optimism. We have had several rounds of dialogue on a range of issues and, more significantly, in a relatively peaceful and conducive atmosphere. We need to make concerted efforts to utilize this favourable climate and take all possible initiatives to address the various outstanding issues and establish a stable structure of cooperation in all areas, including trade and commerce. Home Speaker's Office Role of Speaker Speeches Profile Former Speaker Events Press Release Contact Related Links