Temples of the new age (Bhakra Nangal, July 1954) JAWAHARLAL NEHRU (1889–1964)

Temples of the new age (Bhakra Nangal, July 1954)
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU (1889–1964)

Nehru was a champion of modernization and he believed that this could be
achieved through massive government projects and public sector
undertakings. New dams and factories underpinned his vision of a modern
and self-sufficient India. He took great pride in the completion of the
massive Bhakra Nangal dam in Punjab on the Indian side of the Sutlej river.
It was 680 feet high and the second highest dam in the world. e project
would generate nearly a million kilowatts of electricity and water from its
reservoir would help irrigate 7.4 million acres of land. It was while
inaugurating the dam that he made this speech in Hindi and added a new
phrase to the nation’s vocabulary.

MAIN SPEECH

I have occasion frequently these days to participate in functions marking the

inauguration of some new work or completion of some other. Today, you

and I and all these persons have gathered here on one such occasion. I want

to know from you what you think and feel in your minds and hearts on this

occasion, because in my heart and mind there is a strange exhilaration and

excitement, and many kinds of pictures come before me. Many dreams we

have dreamt are today drawing near and being materialized. For the

materialization of these dreams, we may praise one another, and those who

have done good work should be praised. But how many can be praised

when the list runs to thousands, nay, lakhs?

Let us give praise where it is due. e work which we see today, and in the

inauguration of which we are participating, is much bigger than our

individual selves. It is a tremendous thing. I have told you that I, and

undoubtedly many of you, have frequent occasions to participate in various

f A f d l d h b ld h l

functions. A foundation stone is laid somewhere; a building, a hospital, a

school or a university is opened elsewhere. Big factories are going up. Such

activity is taking place all over the country because Mother India is

producing various kinds of things. Among them, Bhakra-Nangal has a

special place—Bhakra-Nangal where a small village stood, but which today

is a name ringing in every corner of India and in some parts of the world

too; because this is a great work, the mark of a great enterprise.

About fifty years ago, an Englishman came here and for the first time had

the idea that something could be done at this place, but the idea did not

materialize. e matter was raised many times. Some rough plans were

made but they were not pursued. en India became free. In the process,

the Punjab suffered a great shock and a grievous wound. But despite the

shock and the wound, freedom brought a new strength, a new enthusiasm.

And so with the wound, the worries and calamities, came this new

enthusiasm and new strength to take up this big work. And we took it up. I

have come here frequently. Many of you also must have come and seen this

slowly changing picture and felt something stirring deep within you. What

a stupendous, magnificent work—a work which only that nation can take

up which has faith and boldness! is is a work which does not belong only

to the Punjab, or PEPSU or the neighbouring states, but to the whole of

India.

India has undertaken other big works which are not much smaller than this.

Damodar Valley, Hirakud and the big projects of the south are going on

apace. Plans are being made every day because we are anxious to build a

new India as speedily as possible, to lead it forward, to make it strong and

to remove the poverty of its people. We are doing all this, and Bhakra-

Nangal in many respects will be one of the greatest of these works, because

a very big step in this direction is being taken here today after years of

endeavour. Every work we complete in India gives fresh strength to the

nation to undertake new tasks. Bhakra-Nangal is a landmark not merely

because the water will flow here and irrigate large portions of the Punjab,

PEPSU, Rajasthan and fertilize the deserts of Rajasthan, or because enough

electric power will be generated here to run thousands of factories and

cottage industries which will provide work for the people and relieve

unemployment. It is a landmark because it has become the symbol of a

nation’s will to march forward with strength, determination and courage.

at is why, seeing this work, my courage and strength have increased,

b h h d d

because nothing is more encouraging than to capture our dreams and give

them real shape.

Just before coming to Nangal, I was in Bhakra where the Dam is being

built. I stood on the banks of the Sutlej and saw the mountains to the right

and left. Far away, at various spots, people were working. Since it was a

holiday, there was not much work going on, for all the people had come

here. Still there were a few persons working. From a distance they looked

very small against the mighty-looking mountain through which a tunnel

was being bored. e thought came to me that it was these very men who

had striven against the mountains and brought them under control.

What is now complete is only half the work. We may celebrate its

completion but we must remember that the most difficult part still remains

to be done—the construction of the dam about which you have heard so

much. Our engineers tell us that probably nowhere else in the world is there

a dam high as this. e work bristles with difficulties and complications. As

I walked round the site I thought that these days the biggest temple and

mosque and gurdwara is the place where man works for the good of

mankind. Which place can be greater than this, this Bhakra-Nangal, where

thousands and lakhs of men have worked, have shed their blood and sweat

and laid down their lives as well? Where can be a greater and holier place

than this, which we can regard as higher?

en again it struck me that Bhakra-Nangal was like a big university where

we can work and while working learn, so that we may do bigger things. e

nation is marching forward and every day the pace becomes faster. As we

learn the work and gain experience, we advance with greater speed. Bhakra-

Nangal is not a work of this moment only, because the work which we are

doing at present is not only for our own times but for coming generations

and future times.

Another thought came to my mind when I saw the Sutlej. Where has it

come from? What course has it traversed to reach here? Do you know

where the Sutlej springs from? It rises near Mount Kailash in the vicinity of

Mansarovar. e Indus rises near by. e Brahmaputra also flows from that

place in a different direction, reaching India and Pakistan after traversing

thousands of miles. Other rivers rise from places near by and flow from

Tibet towards China. So the Sutlej traverses hundreds of miles through the

Himalayas to reach here and we have tried to control her in a friendly way.

Y h h b d h l A h h l

You have seen the two big diversion channels. At present the whole river

has been channelled through one canal. After the rains we will divert the

river completely in the two channels so that the dam might be built there.

I look far, not only towards Bhakra-Nangal, but towards this our country,

India, whose children we are. Where is she going? Where have we to lead

her, which way have we to walk and what mighty tasks have we to

undertake? Some of these will be completed in our lifetime. Others will be

taken up and completed by those who come after us. e work of a nation

or a country is never completed. It goes on and no one can arrest its

progress—the progress of a living nation. We have to press forward. e

question is which way we have to take, how we should proceed, what

principles, what objectives we have to keep before us. All these big

questions crop up. is is not an occasion to tell you about them but we

have to remember them always and not forget them. When we undertake a

big work we have to do so with a large heart and a large mind. Small minds

or small-minded nations cannot undertake big works. When we see big

works our stature grows with them, and our minds open out a little.