This book brings together twenty-eight selected speeches of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, on the theme of the cultural and political unity of India. In these speeches, the President dwells on the essential unity of Indian culture, which is the heritage of the country’s unbroken history of thousands of years. He emphasizes the need to preserve and strengthen our national unity and to guard against fissiparous tendencies.

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Contents

1. Our Collective Consciousness —Pgs. 9

2. Fellow Feeling and Communal Harmony —Pgs. 18

3. The Tamil Language and Culture —Pgs. 22

4. The Language Problem —Pgs. 25

5. Music in Indian Life —Pgs. 31

6. The Contribution of Karnataka —Pgs. 34

7. Punjabi Culture —Pgs. 38

8. The Art Traditions of Kerala —Pgs. 41

9. The Sanskrit Language —Pgs. 44

10. Tamilnad and Hindi Prachar —Pgs. 47

11. Need for National Outlook —Pgs. 53

12. The Punjabi Language —Pgs. 55

13. Indian Unity —Pgs. 59

14. Hindi should keep its Doors Open —Pgs. 63

15. The Special Place of Sanskrit —Pgs. 70

16. A Case for One Script —Pgs. 73

17. Youth and the Tolerant Spirit —Pgs. 79

18. Hindi, English and the Regional Languages —Pgs. 82

19. Age-old Ideals and Reality —Pgs. 86

20. The Story of St. Thomas —Pgs. 91

21. Amir Khusro—A Unifying Force —Pgs. 95

22. Hindi Will Never be Imposed on Anyone —Pgs. 99

23. The Power in Your Hands —Pgs. 103

24. Preserving Our Security —Pgs. 106

25. A Working Democracy —Pgs. 109

26. We Must Hold Together —Pgs. 111

27. Towards a National Language —Pgs. 118

28. Stop the Forces of Disruption —Pgs. 127

One of the foremost Gandhian leaders, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was born on December 3, 1884 at Zeradei, a village in the then district Saran of Bihar. Schooling in District School Chapra, and higher education in Presidency College, Calcutta. A brilliant student, topped the list in successive examinations of Calcutta University. Started career as a lawyer in 1911 in Calcutta High Court, later shifted to Patna.Right from student days engaged in activities of public concern. Founder of the ‘Bihari Students’ Conference’. Rendered valuable assistance to Mahatma Gandhi in Champaran Satyagraha (1917-18). Gave up a flourishing legal practice to join the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920). A top-rank Congress leader and freedom-fighter. Thrice elected Congress President. Prominent role in the rebuilding of the country. Food and Agriculture Minister in the Interim Government. President of the Constituent Assembly. President of the Republic of India from 1950 to 1962. An erudite scholar, serious and constructive thinker, and speaker and writer of great distinction. Honoured with various distinguished titles in the country and abroad. Conferred with Bharat Ratna in 1962.After relinquishing office on May 13, 1962, retired to his old hermitage in Sadaqat Ashram, Bihar Vidyapith, Patna, where he breathed his last on February 28, 1963.