The World: Morarji Desai: The Ascetic Activist

Despite the austerity of his lifestyle, Prime Minister Desai is not one of the sadhu—Indian holy men who believe that it is enough to be and not to do. A shrewd political activist, he argues that "things should be done for their own sake. I accept that I will never understand reality, so I concentrate on action, dharma [duty] and commitment." Last week, at his government bungalow in New Delhi, he outlined his views of India's future in an interview with TIME Correspondents Lawrence Malkin and William Stewart. Excerpts:

ON THE ELECTION RESULTS. I...