Twenty-five years have passed since India regained her independence after long centuries of foreign rule. But that foreign rule, except during the 100 years of British rule, seldom extended to the whole country. Vast areas maintained their freedom even during the hey day of Mughal rule. What distinguishes India from most other countries which have suffered foreign domination at some time or the other in the course of their history, is that the people of India never completely submitted to the foreign rule. Right from 712 A.D., when King Dahir Sen of Sindh died fighting the Arab invaders to 1947 when the British left India for good, there has never been a day when some patriot or the other did not keep on the struggle for freedom in some part of the country or the other. It is this galaxy of men of action, freedom fighters and warriors besides the men of thought who kept India alive as a nation all through these centuries of foreign rule.
The second factor which has helped India to maintain its distinct historical and cultural identity all through the ages is her cultural heritage and continuity of her social and political institutions right from the time of the Rig Veda to the present day. Concept of a universal God-"Satyam", "Shivam", "Sundaram"-and acceptance of equal relevance of various ways to realise Him which distinguishes Indian thought and philosophy from the philosophy of monolithic religions like Islam and Communism, has given Indian thinking and institutions a resilience and adaptability which has been the greatest asset of India through the ages. Conform- ism to any one type of political thought and institutions is as foreign to Indian genius as conformism to any one form of worship.
Pages 154 | 1973 Edition
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