Al Gomhuria, P.9 (26-10-2006)

Seventy books in one book

When Nehru said: "freedom will not come down by parachutes over our heads."

Why did Nehru defend the production of Nuclear energy in 1956?

By: Kamel Zoheiri

'I published an article in Rose Al Youssif in 1956, in a section entitled (a New Book). It was a long interview with Nehru conducted by an Austrian writer named Tipore Mendi. In reply to a question related to his point of view regarding India's position concerning the production of nuclear energy, Nehru said:" It is dangerous that the nuclear energy would be available to few countries only. This is happening now. It increases the gap between the economically advanced and backward countries. The latter needs the nuclear energy even more. In the US, they can do without the nuclear energy because they have other more advanced industrial potentials." 

At the time Nehru said that the Indians believe that the US represents the old imperialistic interests; and the US is supporting unpopular governments to get more strategic advantages.

Indians noticed that the US prefers providing military aids to economic aids because it likes to provide aids in return of getting obligations and commitments. The US always threatens of launching military operations, while the remedy of any situation is not through threats. What makes the gap wider is that the Americans believe that whoever is not with them is against them.

This is literally what I published in "a New Book" section of Rose Al Youssif on July 9, 1956. In this book I quoted Nehru as saying: "Indians should make their own country and freedom will not come down by parachutes over our heads.'

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