Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Radio Address to India, All India Radio March, 1959

EkDesiLadki wrote:

 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Radio Address to India, All India Radio March, 1959

 Leaders in and out of government, organizations, particularly the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi and the Quaker Center, and many homes and families have done their utmost to make our short stay both pleasant and instructive. We have learned a lot. We are not rash enough to presume that we know India, vast subcontinent with all of its people, problems, contrasts and achievements; however, since we have been asked about our impressions, we venture one or two generalizations. First we think that the spirit of Gandhi is much stronger today than some people believe. That is not only the direct and indirect influence of his comrades and associates, but also the organized efforts that are being made to preserve the Mahatma’s letters and other writings, the pictures, monuments, the work of the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi and the movement led by the sainted Vinoba Bhave. These are but a few examples of the way Gandhiji will be permanently enshrined in the hearts of the people of India. Moreover, many governmental officials who do not follow Gandhi literally apply his spirit to domestic and international problems. Secondly, I wish to make a plea to the people and government of India. The issue of world peace is so critical, that I feel compelled to offer a suggestion that came to me during the course of our conversations with Vinoba Bhave. The peace-loving peoples of the world have not yet succeeded in persuading my own country, America, and Soviet Russia to eliminate fear and disarm themselves. Unfortunately, as yet America and the Soviet Union have not shown the faith and moral courage to do this. Vinobaji has said that India, or any other nation that has the faith and moral courage, could disarm itself tomorrow, even unilaterally. It may be that, just as India had to take the lead and show the world that national independence could be achieved non-violently, so India may have to take the lead and call for universal disarmament. And if no other nation will join her immediately, India may declare itself for disarmament unilaterally. Such an act of courage would be a great demonstration of the spirit of the Mahatma, and would be the greatest stimulus to the rest of the world to do likewise. Moreover, any nation that would take such a brave step would automatically draw to itself the support of the multitudes of the earth, so that any would-be aggressor would be discouraged from risking the wrath of mankind.


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http://www.topix.com/forum/afam/T39LTO9CSMUAGT270/p5


Thanks for the info. I wish Dr. King had as much moral and spiritual influence in America as Gandhi seems to have still in India. What I was specifically thinking of was the suggestion made by King (and in one of your posts) that India could perhaps lead the world in the move toward disarmament. Since, as Dr. King suggested, neither America nor the Soviet Union had any inclination to give up the arms race and work for peace, maybe India (in spirit of the Mahatma) could lead the way. I'm wondering if that's still possible as King thought it was in 1959. I wish King's influence could be used to both reduce violence within our African-American communities, as well as violence between racial groups....But that's another discussion. 

-Savant