(being the Address delivered by Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi at the seminar of Intellectuals on Communal Harmony held at Pune on 21^st February, 1987).

It is common practice that if anybody tries to say or do anything which is bit unusual, everybody raises an eyebrow. Still, we have come to your city for convening a meeting without any formal platform or president or to support any movement: nor we propose to pass any resolution. Many within our own country and outside it have engaged themselves into the service of humanity, sometimes even anonymously without forming any association or society for the purpose. But nowadays one wonders, thanks to Europe, how any useful work can be done without any formal platform with all its concomitants like a president and secretary. But we have decided to come here and contact you relying solely on God.

The world is today on the verge of destruction: a place where a shattering explosion can take place any moment. You are listening me here because you do not fear any imminent catastrophe. We give ears to any talk whether it pertains to religion or wisdom or justice in normal conditions only. But if the conditions are abnormal; there is thunder and rain, then you would hardly be able to pay attention to the most eloquent speaker spreading pearls of wisdom. This is human nature. Man can employ his powers of attention only when he is at peace, has no fear, not faced with any danger, not seriously ill or hungry. But if he is mentally agitated or perturbed by his circumstances, he would not yield to anyone whatever be the inducement.

I want to emphasize that we should have normal and peaceful conditions in India as well as in the world at large so that people may be able to devote themselves to their task whole-heartedly; the teachers may be able to teach and students to study, penmen may enrich literature and poets may celebrate in poetry, artist may apply their skill to paintings and architecture and scholars may devote themselves to study and research. Etc

Issues For Every Patriot To Ponder