London, 23 November 2005

Professor Rajmohan Gandhi spoke at a luncheon given in his honour by the London Press Club on the occasion of his round-Britain speaking tour. It took place in the beautiful premises of the Foreign Press Association which had been the home of William Gladstone, the great 19th Century British prime minister.

The occasion, with some sixty guests, was chaired by Carole Stone, a Director of the Press Club and the Vote of Thanks was given by Steve Oram, Director of the Newspaper Publishers Association. Canon David Meara, Rector of St. Bride’s, the journalists Church in Fleet Street, said grace before the meal.

Professor Gandhi’s subject was ‘The War on Terrorism and the Gandhian Ethic’, and he made the following points:

My first point today is to express my sense of marvel at the capacity of the British people to prepare for difficult situations that may arise - avian flu crisis, terrorism - to mention two. I consider however, that whereas security and survival are essential factors in a nation’s life, they do not constitute a national purpose for a great nation like this. To settle for survival as an aim is to lose something of the greatness of a nation.

My second point. There is a significant difference between our situation during the Cold War and the present. There was a warmth between the peoples of the Communist world and the rest of the world. At the same time, there was a natural dislike of the leaders and their aims. Now by contrast, where there are the two great blocks of the Western world and the Islamic world, neither of which is homogeneous or united, an uneasy feeling exists between the peoples of these two worlds about each other. This is what concerns me the most and would have troubled the Mahatma the most.

Today there is caution, distrust and fear about the Muslims in the West. Although there is a general acknowledgement that a whole group should not be judged by the misdeeds of a few, it seems that this judgement should not be applied to the people of Islam. Likewise in the Muslim world, there is a tremendous propaganda teaching about the alleged wrongs of European countries, America, Christians and Jews. So you have a people-to-people mistrust which I regard as a very serious matter.

Next point. I want the leaders of the Western nations to differentiate between extremism, terrorism and nationalism. Let us not assume that they all mean the same thing. There is talk at the moment at the highest policy levels in the United States, saying that there is a plan amongst some Muslim radicals to create a Caliphate from Morocco to Indonesia. Bush has spoken of the cruelty and danger of these radical leaders and that they represent the greatest danger to the Western world. He equates them with the Communist enemy during the Cold War. My response is as follows. Are they a danger? Yes. Are they cruel? Yes, most emphatically. Should they be elevated to the status of the greatest enemy of the West? I should say, not. They are a dangerous fringe group only.

What the West really faces in the Middle East is nationalism. Admittedly nationalism is not always constructive. Nationalism can indeed be destructive. it can mislead people and take them to a place that they would be better off not to be. Nevertheless, the leaders of the Western world have got to recognise and somehow address the issue of nationalism, which of course is related to occupation, Palestine and so forth. Unless the divides caused by some Western policies, and the sometime unwise nationalistic responses to them, are recognised, terrorism will continue to have a sympathetic climate in those countries.

Last point. There have been times in this country when some individuals with a deeply held conviction in their spirits have been able to change public opinion. Churchill mobilised Britain about the danger of Hitler. After the war it was not easy, I imagine, for people in Britain to establish good relations with Germany. It took a lot of statesmanship of many people to say that Germany too can be a part of the newEurope and Germans and English can have constructive relations. But I find today reluctance on the part of policy makers and opinion formers to address this business of Islam and the attitude of the West to Muslim countries in a frontal manner.

Why is it dangerous to the world? Because Muslims and non-Muslims live amidst each other in virtually every country of the world. If we accept this fundamental divide we can expect endless universal tension and trouble for all of us.

It is tough, especially when attacks like those in July take place. It is tempting to think that a whole people are somehow a group that we should be careful about. It is a naturalreaction. It is not a wise reaction. And this country is too great to yield to this kind of knee-jerk reaction.

His talk was followed by a lively question and answer session, from which, in spite of intense but friendly media examination, he emerged unscathed.

Proposing a vote of thanks, Steve Oram, the Director of the Newspaper Publishers Association said:

The last two hours have been incredibly stimulating and for this we owe gratitude to Professor RajmohanGandhi. He has given us two key things which provide plenty of food for thought. 

1.      The first of these and some of you might have found this difficult to accept: survival is not the greatest aim. Survival is a natural instinct.   There is much room for thought here. But. as we know, life goes on beyond that

2.      The next point. People’s feelings towards each other and contrasting the Cold War attitudes towards leaders as opposed to those of the people. And the current position – people’s suspicion of each other. Very. very difficult. Again lots of food for thought there.

What can be done? The role and responsibility of the press in forming public opinion both in the UK and globally, is so, so important.

Steve Oram then presented Rajmohan Gandhi with a history of Fleet Street. telling the story of the British newspaper industry, and a Life Membership of the London Press Club.

The occasion was notable for its welcoming and cheerful ambiance and a pervasive sense of goodwill at the presence of such a distinguished personality.