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to help develop the rural area very much more. involves social changes, because I don’t think we
Although we have so many good programs we can improve our economy without having this
find that not all of them have the effect that we modernization. We want our modernization to
would like – they don’t better the life of the people grow out of our past. We don’t want to take some-
as they should. thing outside, which will not have roots and which
DK: What is the most decisive thing to do might create alienation amongst the people. So, we
within the next year which you feel that if you do it want the things in our tradition, which we are very
your programme could at least have a good start? proud of and we feel it gives us strength, that we
IG: There are two things together because they want to keep, but at the same we must take benefit
are interdependent. There is the law and order situ- from science and technology and any new inven-
ation and the economic situation. If we don’t solve tion, which might be able to help us at any sphere
the law and order, economy also is in a bad way. at national or social life. Because we were not free,
But I would say that economy comes first. because me and my generation have very vivid
DK: How do you feel the world as a whole memories of the humiliation and the suffering, we
today? are still very aware of freedom and we will not like
IG: I think it’s in a pretty bad state. Recently that freedom to be anyway lessened or darkened.
I’ve been to Zimbabwe and Belgrade. And I met Judging and acting according to our national inte-
a large number of people from a lot of countries. rests and the interest of what we consider a world
They talked little about international problems peace. And that’s why we have taken very active
but basically they were worried about their own part in thе movement for total disarmament and
countries and especially their own economies. And especially against the nuclear warfare. We believe
everywhere the crime and violence seem to have all these tensions should be reduced, not only for
grown, in large part of the West especially and in the sake of the world peace and the future of the
some parts of Asia. And what seems very strange to mankind, but even for our immediate future, be-
me, because I was brought up with the idea of using cause we the poorer countries are most threatenеd
things for the good of the people whether it’s the sci- if there is a conflict or tension. This will immedi-
ence or any quality which one has within oneself – ately affect our economies and our lives.
now mankind’s knowledge has grown tremendously, DK: And now Mrs Gandhi, because we are in
its capacity to do, the technology, the medicine, but front of the Bulgarian TV, do you like to say some-
what it is used for? Basically it’s not being used for thing to the Bulgarian people?
constructive purposes. Whereas everybody today IG: I would like to send them my very warm
should sit together and put an end to poverty. But greetings and regards. We admire the progress
it is not happening, we are still caught up in the old they’ve made and we wish them well for the future.
rivalries, greed, spheres of interest, balance of terror. It is known that Indira Gandhi used to work
It seems to be a very sad situation and completely for 18 hours per day. It is not known that in her
ignoring the basic problems of the vast majority of personal library there were translations of Hristo
the people. Botev and other Bulgarian writers and poets, books
DK: I would like to hear something about and albums about Bulgaria. It is known that she
Bulgaria. takes the path of the first born in every Indian
IG: Well, Bulgaria has been working for peace family, being the only daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru
and fortunately we have made a close and mean- and a granddaughter of Motilal Nehru, Kashmiri
ingful relationship. We have good cooperation in Brahmans, leaders of the movement for Indepen-
the economic sphere and the cultural sphere and we dence and fellow activists of Mahatma Gandhi – the
have great admirations for your leaders, because Great Soul, in the first victory of non-violence over
we have many shared ideas and outlook, but also violence in the contemporary world. But her carry-
because they don’t just look at us like statistics. This ing warmth and tenderness that only a woman can
is an attitude, which we have appreciated. give to the world is slightly known.
DK: Where does India stay now? One thing is sure – Indira Gandhi could have
IG: I hope that we are not standing, we are been born only on Indian land, only India could
moving forward. But the base is our policy of give birth and give home to Indira Gandhi, Mataji
self-reliance economy within the country, which Indira.