Jairam Ramesh recalls Indira Gandhi's historic 1972 UN environment speech in Stockholm
New Delhi, June 14
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Sunday recalled former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's address at the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, describing it as a landmark speech in the global discourse on environmental protection.
In a post on X, Ramesh said that Indira Gandhi, who was one of only two heads of government to speak at the conference held from June 5, 1972, observed as World Environment Day, delivered what is widely regarded as one of her most memorable and historically significant addresses.
He noted that her speech is considered among the four major milestones in global environmental thought, alongside Rachel Carson's Silent Spring (1962), Paul Ehrlich's The Population Bomb (1968), and the MIT/Club of Rome report The Limits to Growth (1972).
"Indira Gandhi's speech is widely considered to be one of the four milestones in the global discourse on the environment--the others being the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring in 1962, Paul Ehrlich's The Population Bomb in 1968 and MIT/Club of Rome's The Limits to Growth in early 1972. It is still universally recalled, quoted and published. The speech ends by her recalling Verse 35 from the Prithvi Sukta in the Atharva Veda, which, in translation, reads "What of thee I dig out, let that quickly grow ever, / Let me not hit thy vitals or thy heart." Ramesh wrote.
The Congress leader further highlighted that Indira Gandhi concluded her address by quoting Verse 35 from the Prithvi Sukta of the Atharva Veda, which reflects the principle of ecological balance and restraint.
He also pointed out that her original circulated speech at the Stockholm conference included the full text of Emperor Ashoka's Major Pillar Edict, regarded as one of the earliest environmental proclamations by a ruler.
He added that she also referenced Ashoka's Rock Edict, expressing remorse over the destruction caused by war, while drawing attention to environmental damage during conflicts such as the Vietnam War in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
Ramesh said the version of the speech circulated at Stockholm contained these references, which were later omitted in several published compilations, including official volumes of Indira Gandhi's speeches as Prime Minister.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting that the original speech included Ashoka's pillar edict. It's a shame those references were omitted from official collections later. This is a valuable piece of our environmental history that shouldn't be forgotten.
I agree that it was a landmark speech, but we must also acknowledge that India's environmental record since then has been mixed. The Narmada dam projects, deforestation in the Western Ghats, and pollution in our rivers show we haven't lived up to that vision. Let's not just celebrate history but also demand action today.
Indira Gandhi was one of the first global leaders to link poverty and environment, famously saying poverty is the greatest polluter. That perspective is still relevant today for developing nations. Jairam Ramesh is right to remind us of this important legacy.
As someone who studied environmental policy, I can confirm how influential that Stockholm speech was globally. The way she wove Indian philosophy into a modern environmental context was brilliant. Good to see Indian politicians still referencing it.
Why is Jairam Ramesh posting this now? Is it just nostalgia or is there a policy push behind it? We need concrete environmental action, not just historical references. The air quality in Delhi alone tells you how far we've strayed from that vision.
N We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.