Basic HTML Version
July 1971
INDIA TODAY -
Struggling with
a massive population problem,
India has emba rked on an ex–
tensive family planning program.
Part of the educational effort is in
the form of posters p laced in
strategic locations throughout
India. The one at the extreme left
tells people that a happy family
should be limited to no more than
two or three children and to ask
for a doctor's advice. Meanwhile
(top right) the population problem
is being aggravated by refugees
from Pakistan. Bottom and center
photos show other creas in which
India is striving to improve -
farming and housing.
Wide
World (top phototl,
Ambassador
Collese
Cbottom ond
cenrer)
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and she exclaimed: ''Ah, a piece of
beautiful Steuben." She said she had
always admired Steuben crystal. Her
father, the late Prime Minister Nehru,
had received severa! gifts of this type of
art.
It
is often given to heads of state.
1 handed Mrs. Gandhi a copy of the
latest PLAIN TRUTH, and the booklet
This Is Ambassador College.
She re–
viewed them with great interest and
nodded permission to Mr. Gotoh to
photograph her reading them.
I then explained to the Prime Minis–
ter of the second most populous nation
on earth that Ambassador College
would like to send its television crew
to do a television documentary on India.
Mrs. Gandhi responded that she would
welcome an Ambassador College tele–
vision production on India. 1 had prom-
The
PLAIN TRUTH
ised her that it would present India's
problems fairly and honestly and in an
educational manner.
Mrs. Gandhi then exprcssed great
interest in the Ambassador College agri·
cultural research program at our Texas
and Englisb campuses. In answer to
questions I explained at sorne length
these activities and the gratifying results
being achieved.
Analyses of Nacional Issues
1 then asked the Prime Minister to
tell us about India's problems and also
her problems as Chief of State - and
of progress being made. She then spoke,
uninterrupted (except by notes being
handed to her by a secretary of the ar–
rival of cabinet members for appoint–
ments with her) . But she rejected
interruptioo and spoke for the next
twenty mínutes in answer to my
question.
She explained first that India does
have immeose problems of every
description. There are no problems con–
fronting mankind that cannot be readily
found without effort in India. But she
was deeply concerned that journalists,
television producers and commentators,
and other writers and observers, fail to
note carefully the way India is attempt–
ing to
cope
with, and ímprove, each of
the problems. Also, they too often faíl
to report the progress that India has
made duríng her brief history as an
indepeodent nation since 1947.
Mrs. Gandhi explained that most of
India's problems stem from immense
population, its enormous birthrate and
its agricultura! resources - or its lack
of the same. For the sake of com–
parison, she noted India gives birth
each year to a population equal to the
entire population of Australia. India is
making every effort to Jower the bírth–
rate, but education and time will be
needed.
There have been agricultura! reforms.
Much progress in agricultura! produc–
tion has taken place but there have
been significant setbacks because of the
natural elemeots. As irrigation becomes
more widespread, many of the agricul–
tura! needs will be alleviated. In the
meantime, India is grateful for tbe aid
received from the
U.
S. and elsewhere.
The Prime Minister was very much
45
interested in Ambassador College's
worldwide educational exteosion
program, and she noted tbat the educa–
tional needs of India should be sig–
nificantly hclped by such a program.
But that, again, much time would be
needed to correct India's educational
system. Efforts had been made to make
education compulsory, but the means of
enforcing the compulsory education
were not readily at hand.
I mentioned
my
discussions with
President Marcos of the Pbilippines and
his "green revolution." Mrs. Gandhi
said that she was well aware of the
progress being made in the Philippines,
and indicated that India was also mak–
ing great stridcs witb its "green
revolution."
I mentioned, or possibly she noted
independently, our association with
Hebrew Uníversity in Jerusalem, and a
brief discussion ensued about the Kib–
butz system. She seemed to suggest sorne
interest in the adaptability of such
cooperative efforts in India.
Mes.
Gandhi said that India has been
confronted with an ever-increasing
problem of refugees from East Pakistan.
These refugees were then coming into
India at the cate of sorne 1,500 persons
per day. Most of them find their way to
Calcutta and make conditions there, al–
ready bad, increasingly worse. She
called our attention to the increasing
política! and civil strife in East Pakistan
and also Calcutta as a result of this ref–
ugee problem.
Democracy, Mrs. Gandhi insisted,
will prevail in India despite the ru–
mors to the contrary. She said that she
believed very strongly in democratic in–
stitutions herself and was confídent that
they had becn successfully adopted by
her people.
1 then alluded to the Palestinian refu–
gee problem in the Míddle East. I
advised Mes. Gandhi of Ambassador
College's efforts to promote world peace
and understanding everywhere and
explained how Ambassador College had
given assistance to the Jordanian Gov–
ernment refugee problem through the
purchase of radio time. Also 1 advised
the Prime Minister of our support of
the International Cultural Center for
Youth in Jerusalem where young Arabs