Solitons - A general feature of high and medium energy strong interaction physics

Solitons (or more accurately, solitary waves) are a concept (originating in the study of continuous macroscopic media) which is just now beginning to find its place in the realm of quantum physics. Lately, we have seen the application of solitons in several areas of physics - both macroscopic and microscopic. A detailed survey of all such applications is understandably beyond the scope of this meagre review. The author concentrates on the possibility of using the concept of solitons in particle and nuclear collisions. The purpose of this talk is not so much to prove anything as to awaken the interest of the reader in these concepts and try to convince him of the relevance of our surmises