The Nehru Blog

A Tryst with Destiny

The Concept of Democratic Socialism

April 19, 1958

Speech at a symposium on ‘Our Conception of Democratic Socialism’ organised by the Congress Socialist Forum, New Delhi, 19 April 1958. We have to mould our thinking in the light of the tremendous technological progress taking place today. The pace of its progress is so great that our thinking tends to become out of date. The effect…
The Caste System must go

December 8, 1957

Excerpts from Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech at Gandhigram (near Madurai) December 8, 1957 I have been here about eight or nine hours now since this morning, and I have breathed the air of this place and sensed the atmosphere here, seen many faces, young and old, and also looked at these hills and mountains capped by clouds. I have…
From the Red Fort: Nehru’s Independence Day Address, 1957

August 15, 1957

Economic Freedom is the Next Step Brothers, sisters and children, I am happy that this rain has come. It might have worried some of you whose clothes are slightly drenched. But in this rain I see a symbol of our country’s prosperity, of its becoming green and fertile and our hearts also being refreshed. Children,…
Nehru’s Speech: Science and Humility

January 14, 1957

Speech of Jawaharlal Nehru at the Science Congress, Calcutta, January 14, 1957 I am coming here today from Hirakud where I performed or helped in the opening ceremony of a very magnificent piece of work of Indian engineers, the great Hirakud Dam. This, I am told, is the longest in the world. A day before…
From the Red Fort: Nehru’s Independence Day Address, 1956

August 15, 1956

Renewing the Pledge Jai Hind. Greetings to all of you on the ninth anniversary of Indian independence. The new star of independent India blazed out in the firmament nine years ago. India was new and yet very old too, at the same time, a country moulded by centuries of experience and by the sacrifice, hard work,…
Aspects of Administration

April 7, 1956

Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech in Second Annual General Body Meeting of Indian Institute of Public Administration. (April 7, 1956) Friends, for the third time you have elected me as your President. For the tliird time I have come to this hall to preside over this function, and in between I have done nothing in regard to…
From the Red Fort: Nehru’s Independence Day Address, 1955

August 15, 1955

Decisions through Peaceful Means Today we are assembled once again on the anniversary of India s independence. Greetings to everyone on this auspicious occasion. Do you remember that day when we reached this goal after a long journey and many ups and downs? Many people stumbled and fell, picked themselves up and moved on again.…
Nehru on Govt. Scholarship to young Irfan Habib

August 12, 1955

Home Ministry had raised objections to Irfan Habib’s getting a Government scholarship for studies abroad because of his connection with the Communist Party of India. On Zakir Husain’s intervention, Nehru met Irfan Habib. Below is the letter Nehru wrote to Zakir Husain, the Vice-Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University. New Delhi 12 August 1955 My…

Jawaharlal will be my successor…

Do not please go away with the idea that there is a rift in the Congress. The working committee has worked like members of a happy family. Somebody suggested that Pandit Jawaharlal and I were estranged. It will require much more than the differences of opinion to estrange us.

We have had differences from the moment we became co-workers, and yet I have said for some years and say now that not Rajaji but Jawaharlal will be my successor.

He says he does not understand my language, and that he speaks a language foreign to me. This may or may not be true. But language is no bar to a union of hearts. And I know this that when I am gone, he will speak my language.

Mahatma Gandhi, AICC Meet, Wardha, 1942