Building a new nation after regaining independence is like building a house in a plot of land of one’s own after living in a small room annexed to other’s house.
For the first stage, he has to clear all the wild plants in the area, level the ground and build a fence. In like manner, if it is desired to establish a nation, regions are to be brought together, territory is to be delineated, and national races, who will live together sharing joys and sorrows, are to be consolidated. This stage is territorial integration and national consolidation. In this stage, an independent nation has to deal with a variety of challenges and difficulties. For instance, India, just after it had regained independence, had to engage in the border incident with Pakistan, resulting from Kashmir issue. Some nations split into two parts and each remained separate for a long time, stemming from the aftershocks of the Cold War. Vietnam, for instance, split into southern part and northern part divided at the 17th parallel line after Geneva Agreement was signed in 1957. Only after the Vietnam War did the two parts of the nation reunite in 1975.

Reunification of the two regions is not enough to establish a nation. Like the process that the construction of the house is launched by laying a foundation and setting up pillars, after erecting a fence and clearing wild plants, the establishment of a nation calls for carrying out State-building and nation-building tasks with efforts. In the process, it is needed to brave a wide range of difficulties. If a house has been built, all family members need to be united with enough income. Some countries are dealing with internal armed conflicts owing to disunity among the people and in sequence, the people concerned are not in a position to rebuild their mother country. Only in the early 1970s, could Malaysia, which regained independence from the British in 1957, start its nation-building tasks with might and main. Some nations unavoidably tried to regain independence, but faced difficulties, resulting from lack of funds and natural resources. The first-ever prime minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yue in his memoirs said that in 1965 when Singapore regained independence, it had no funds or soldiers, and the status of the majority of the people was just like ship porters. So, he was deeply concerned over the future of the nation and was in tears, he said.

Actually, it is no bed of roses for every country trying hard from national reconstruction till it has been able to keep abreast of international level. Some countries lost there way on their path towards development. Some countries collapsed while their development tasks were in full swing.

When I learnt about the miseries of some countries like Somalia and Sudan that are not in a position to seek ways to tackle the issues they are facing due to foreign interference in their civil wars following disunity among the people, I recalled the incidents that had taken place after Myanmar had just regained independence. At that time, the administrative machinery of Yangon government covered only as far as Thamaing junction. Iraq and Afghanistan are now uneasy due to the fact that they have been invaded by foreign troops, and cannot restore security and carry out nation-building undertakings with sham independence and puppet governments. Many civilians are losing their lives under the attacks alien troops are launching indiscriminately. Nonetheless, they daren’t criticize harshly, let alone taking action. Their conditions evoked my memories of the sham independence Fascist Japan granted Myanmar and the puppet government with chancellor Dr Ba Maw in the time of Japanese Fascists.
The saying “United we stand, divided we fall” has become more meaningful because now the world’s strongest military power and political influence are in the hands of some countries that are desperate to establish a modern empire. In the present period, such countries are trying to drive a wedge among the people. And if their attempts do not work, the power-maniac would not hesitate to use force and threat with atomic bombs. In other words, now is the period in which certain countries use the expression “World War III” irresponsibly. And they do not respect international law and sovereignty of other countries at all and place much reliance on armed power as truth.
Therefore, only with a strong army will a nation be able to protect and safeguard its independence on its own during the period of power politics. Nationalistic fervour, patriotism and national unity are basic requirements for enhancing its strength. In addition, these requirements serve as the main driving force for building a nation capable of catching up with other countries.
I have never heard of a country that has become a developed one through shirking duties among the people, rivalry for power, protests, riots and confrontation. However, I have heard about the countries that have made dramatic progress through national solidarity, patriotism, sacrifices, thrifty, hard work, discipline, and abiding by law.
Myanmar has regained independence for 60 years. Our ancestors had been dutiful, sacrificing their lives, blood and sweat in the movements starting from the First Anglo-Myanmar War (1824) to the Anti-Fascist Resistance and national independence struggles. Have younger generations after the independence been dutiful in the tasks for perpetuation of independence, and peace and development of the independent nation? I would like them to answer this question only after making a self-criticism.