New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday warned governments against the dangers of narrow nationalism in an increasingly globalised world and said the future belonged to societies that could celebrate diversity.
In his acceptance speech upon receiving the 2017 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, Singh rued the prevailing paradox in the world and said just when the societies needed to get closer together, they appear to be falling to narrow nationalism.
In a veiled message to his successor Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who leads the ruling BJP’s nationalist narrative, Singh said, “Successful societies of the future will be those which can handle immense diversity and have an innate cosmopolitan temperament. One of the most admired qualities of India is its success as a plural democracy, which celebrates diversity rather than equate unity with monochromatic dispensations.”
Addressing a select gathering after receiving the award from former Chief Justice of India TS Thakur, who showered praises on him, the ex-PM said India needed to tap into its assets to stay ahead in a globalised world.
As former President Pranab Mukherjee, head of the award jury, and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi heard, the Congress veteran went on to say that the framers of India’s Constitution were wise in articulating a concept of citizenship which transcended, but did not seek suppression of India’s diversity.
