The civil servant is primarily the master of the short-term solution.

Unfortunately even in India there are people who talk like that. And they're the same ones who say, 'We should never have accepted the existence of Pakistan. Now that it exists, it ought to be destroyed.' But these are only a few madmen who have no following among the masses.

If you only knew what it did to me to have lived in that house where the police were bursting in to take everyone away! I certainly didn't have a happy and serene childhood.

It's true that I refused foreign aid. It's true. It wasn't my personal decision, however - it was the whole country that said no.

Defeats are always pitiful. Victories are always last resources.

My father cared very much about courage, physical courage as well. He despised those who didn't have it. But he never said to me, 'I want you to be courageous.' He just smiled with pride every time I did something difficult or won a race with the boys.

If by happiness you mean instead an ordinary contentment, then yes - I'm fairly contented. Not satisfied - contented.