On the eve of Independence Day, the President, Mr. K.R. Narayanan, has applauded "the institutions of democracy" but has also impressed upon the nation the inescapability of the unrealised Nehruvian dream of "the ending of poverty and ignorance and inequality of opportunity. ... In 1947, one could say that it was a dream, it was Gandhi's dream also. But now it has become an inescapable necessity for us to translate that dream into practice. And I think that dream cannot be abandoned."

(The President) also asserted that "communal mobilisation in the long run will not succeed in India because Indian society cannot be mobilised communally".

The President expressed his views ... in a televised "conversation" with Mr. N.Ram, Editor of Frontline ...

Describing India as "a cauldron of dreams, ideas and aspirations of the humankind", Mr. Narayanan said that 'democracy has established itself firmly" and that it was now "one of the irremovable things". Yet, he believes that the parliamentary system can be sustained only "in an atmosphere of social and economic progress and great equality". Conceding that the "march of society, of social change has not been fast enough, not fundamental enough so far", the President takes satisfaction that the "caste-system has been very badly damaged"

Despite "built-in resistance, by powerful sections of society" and now by 'e "new class of landlords", Mr. Narayanan notes the spectacular" assertion incertain sectors, by the backward classes, by Scheduled Castes, and by women ...