Page 352 - 1970S

38
Jndian parliament last summer, caiJing
for an annual growth rate of 5.5 per–
cent each year until L974, and a fantas–
tic 9 percent annual growth in indmtry.1
Over five years, this would represent a
30-percent growth in GNP (from the
present S45 billion to nearly $60 bil–
lion), and a fantastic 54 percent growth
in the industrial sector.
Thc Five-Ycar P l an puts the
accent on self-suffici<::ncy. Presently India
imports nearly 1wice what she exports,
the main deficiencics being food and
fertilizer imports. Thus, the biggest
projected increase in the Five-Year
Plan is a five-fold increase in fertilizer
production. Second in priority is heavy
industry. India is hoping for a near–
doubling in iron ore, steel, and electric
power production during the 1969-74
period.
The major outlay of money (22 per–
cent) is plaoned for agricultura! pro–
duction, followed dosely by industry
( 21 percent) and the vital transporta–
tion field ( 17 percent). Electricity and
housing will each takc 10 percent of
the Five-Year investments. The remain–
ing 20 percent is split in many sub–
sidiary programs, with family planning
unfortun<i.tely taking only 1.3% of the
funds.
The plan has its failings - namely
its mere token support of education, sci–
entific research, family planning, social
services, and one of India's most serious
problems, the "educated unemployed"
- but on the other hand, the need for
food and industry is of primary impor–
tance if Indians are to live and eat. The
other amenities, thC)' reason, can come
)a ter.
A Difficult Barrier
Perhaps the most difficult barrier to
modernizing India is the tremendous
difficulty of overcoming thc age-abiding,
deeply rooted Jndian belief in the
castc system.
The Indian Government finally suc–
ccedcd in officially abolishing the caste
systc:m. Nonethc:less, most Indians are
still caste-conscious, and to this very
day, the vast majority will not even try
to go against the caste concept.
The present government of Prime
Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi ( daughter
of Me. Nehru) has a most difficult task
The PLAIN TRUTH October-November 1970
How your PLAIN TRUTH sub–
scription has been paid
Many ask, "WHY can't 1 pay
for my own subscription? HOW
can you publish such a quality
magazine without advertising reve–
nue?"
This organization operates in a
way none ever did before. These
entire worldwide enterprises started
very small. The Editor had given
a series of lectures in Eugene, Ore–
gon in 1933, on the laws of success
in life. Individual failures and col–
lective world troubles have resulted
from wrong principies whích moti–
vate human society.
This world's approach to life
operates on the philosophy of self–
centeredness - of getting, acquir–
ing, and of envy, jealousy and
hatred. The lectures reversed the
approach, showing that the way to
real success - peace, happiness and
abundant well-being - is the way
of outgoing concern for others
equal to that for self - actually
the giving, serving, cooperating
way.
Response was surprising and en–
thusiastic. A number of lives
about-faced. The manager of Radio
Station KORE, and about a dozen
others of very ordinary means,
volunteercd to contribute regularly
toward getting this knowledge to
more people by radio.
For seven years previously, the
Editor had envisioned a monthly
magazine to be named T he PLAIN
TRUTH. Now, by starting it as a
mimeographed "magazine" the way
had opened.
The first week in January 1934,
T he WORLO TOMORROW pro–
gram started on the air. On Feb–
ruary 1, that year, Tbe PLAIN
m persuading the people of India to
put aside their caste-consciousness. Prog–
ress is being made in this direction,
but not as much as maoy government
officials would like to see!
The present government of lndia is
trying very hard to solve India's agc–
old, deep-seat<:d problems. Major obsta–
eles still lie in thc road which would
lead · India into a progressive, d}•namic
and prosperous nation!
Of COLICSC, all of India's problems
TRUTH made its most humble
bow. Response was gratHying. lt
was something differmt - some–
thing right - something vitally
needed - something containing
vitality and Jife!
There was no request for con–
tributions. It proclaimed the giving
way, and had to practice what it
advocated. A small few contribu–
tors joined in the cause voltmtarily.
Little by little, gradually, listeners
and readers became volzmtary Co–
Workers. They wanted to have a
part in expanding this unique and
11eeded W ork.
Growth seemed slow. But it was
steady and continuous, at the rate
of approximately 30o/0 a year. That
rate of growth has continued for
36 years. We were advocating THE
W AY of GIVING, not getting. To
put a price on our magazine or
other literature would have seemed
inconsistent. So we never have.
Although you cannot pay for
your own subscription, we do,
gratefully accept contributions, vol–
untarily given, though we never
solicit the public for financia!
support.
We believe in what we are
doing, and THE W AY it is being
done. Our ever-growing family of
volunteer Co-W orkers believe in it,
and gladly gíve of their incomes
that we, with them, may GIVE
these precious success secrets to an
ever-widening number of reader,;,
listeners, viewers. These operations
today are having a dynamic impact
on 150 million people, worldwide.
Our happy Co-Workers join in
a sincere THANK YOU for allow–
ing us the pleasure of serving you.
lt gives us lasting pleasure.
cannot be solvcd apart from solving the
entire u·or/d's problems. And that will
take a "strong hand from someplace" to
intervene in world affairs! How it will
be accomplishcd is made plain in our
illustrated booklet entitled The IY/ Oll·
derftd fY/or/d TomotTOUJ - lfí'httl lt
Jlí'ii/ Be Like. This booklet makes plain
India's futurc - reveals how India and
al! nations will bccome Jiterate, pros–
perous, happy nations, and will ulti–
mately realize thcir true destiny! O