The statement is true of individuals as well as of nations. It emphasizes the quality of strength, which is an attribute essential to the life of both, a person as also a nation. It goes on to point out the dependence of the external aspect of strength on its innate content.

Strength is, in fact, a basic condition of life. We have to be strong in order to exist. The smallest catastrophe will annihilate a weakling but the biggest tragedy will bring out hidden reserves of strength in a person made of sterner stuff, and leave him the stronger for having faced it bravely.

We need strength to be able to resist attacks on our freedom, our honour, our possessions and our person; because strength alone knows conflict. Weakness is born vanquished. The weak live in a state of constant fear and have to pay dearly for protection. Finally, we need strength to enjoy life in all its glory, and to enrich it with achievement.

‘Our strength in relation to outside’ signifies the physical and moral force, which we can bring to bear on our actions in relation to outsiders. It consists in our capacity to make room for ourselves, to gain our rightful place, not giving any chance to others to push us about. It lies in our ability to uphold and enforce the law for everyone, without fear.

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It is something which helps us to attain a position where we become a source of strength for all on the side of the right, so that we are sought after in friendship, and do not have to go about looking for friends.

In its negative aspect, our strength in relation to outside means that we should be able to inspire in the hearts of the evil and the wicked the sort of respect they feel for the gun or the tiger. We should have the capacity to make them realize that our calmness in the face or provocation is an aspect of the power we command, and that our forbearance implies strength. They should know that we have the capacity and the will to punish the wrong-doer.

‘Out strength within’ means that innate strength which enables us to stand on our own feet and thus endows us with self-respect. If we stand on borrowed feet, we shall have to mortgage our heads and hearts. In that case we cannot have any pretensions to strength; and hence to self- respect.

‘Strength within’ also denotes the ability to hold our own against opposing forces so that neither a powerful outside foe for the inner foes of passions and temptations can pull us to pieces. Inner strength also signifies that soundness of mind and body which enables us to think and act straight without feeling the necessity of resorting to subterfuge or being overwhelmed by vacillation which is the hallmark of the weak.

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Unless, we are strong within and make determined efforts to consolidate and augment that strength, we stand exposed to aggression, and all other humiliations which are showered on the weak.

A reference to the history of India will very aptly illustrate the truth in whatever has been stated above. Whenever India was weakened by internal conflicts and dissensions, she fell a prey to foreign depredations, so much so that we forfeited our freedom, and had to suffer foreign domination for centuries.

But as the brave freedom-fighters instilled in the masses a burning desire for freedom and the national movement gathered strength, our foreign rulers were left with no other course but to quit the country. Having broken the chains that bound us, it was our duty to consolidate our freedom to augment our strength. But once again we forget the lesson of history.

While designing neighbors were keeping a keen eye on how we went about the business of consolidating our freedom and augmenting our strength, we were keeping ourselves occupied with party politics and with bids to capture the moral leadership of the world. The enemy could easily find the chinks in our armor. The result was the Chinese attack of 1962 in which the Indian Army was worsted for the first time in recent history.

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As a result of this fresh humiliation, which we had to suffer, we lost face in the sphere of international politics. As our internal weakness stood exposed, the hollow prestige we had built up vanished into thin air, and we were left almost friendless in the world.

Today, we go about seeking the help and protection of others. Except in so far as it helps to advance the interests of the powerful nations, our friendship is worth nothing. We are ridiculed, snubbed and patronized. And it has to be so, because the world knows that we do not possess that inner strength which can help us to lay claims to respect in the international sphere.

It cannot, therefore, be vain said that our strength in relation to outside depends on our strength within. Weakness is a sin. Just as it is the moral duty of everyone to maintain and preserve good health, it is the bounden duty of nations to build up enough inner strength, so that they can exist in this violence-ridden world with self-respect. It is only innate strength, which can help them to win their rightful place in the comity of nations.