India federalism dialectics and dynamics

The Lectures, which form the book now being published under the title "Indian Federalism- Dialectics and Dynamics", were delivered under the auspices of Anundoram Barooah Trust at Guahati on the invitation of the Board of Trustees, the Chairman of which is the Chief Justice of the Assam High Court. I am deeply grateful to Trustees and the Chairman (the Chief Justice) for bestowing on me the honour which I value highly

The subject of the Lectures was chosen having in mind the clear suggestion made by the Chairman in his letter to me. While the theme is of topical interest, even of explosive implications, one trembles to tread on the controversial facets involved because the perils thro' which our dear motherland currently passes makes a discussion of federal reform a polemical, perhaps inflammable issue. Our federal destiny can be won only if India is one. And India can be one only if Indian fraternity, thro' constructive constitutional engineering and principled political restructuring, fulfills the reality of diversity in its rich pluralism. Federalism is no fake or facade but the soul of Political Power; and autonomy, in its necessary abundance, if denied by pathologically obsessive centralism, will weaken, not strengthen, our nation. At the same time, reckless play of fissiparous forces, unless soberly controlled with people's co-operation, may make the governance of the country a friction or futility. Patriotism and statesmanship, not chauvinism and obscurantism, must illumine the minds of both sides, if a break-up is to be obviated and the militants are to see the path of conciliation.