I want to succeed. And I want to succeed in the best way possible, without caring whether people call my actions leftist or rightist.

I like to think I've provided this faith. I also think that by providing faith, I've focused their pride. I say focused because pride isn't something you give. It doesn't even break out suddenly; it's a feeling that grows very slowly, very confusedly.

Politics...You see, it depends on what kind of politics. What we did during my father's generation was a duty. And it was beautiful because its goal was the conquest of freedom.

When you govern a country, and especially a country so vast and complex as India, you never arrive at anything.

When one has had a life as difficult as mine, one doesn't worry about how others will react.

I cannot understand how anyone can be an Indian and not be proud.

I want to state that there will be friendship between Bangladesh and ourselves. And not a one-sided friendship, of course - no one does anything for nothing; each has something to give and something to take.