The Nehru Blog

A Tryst with Destiny

India and the Outside World

November 28, 1954

Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech at a public meeting, Ramlila Maidan, Delhi, 28 November 1954. Our proceedings seem to have begun a little before time. It is a good sign to do work early. Radha Ramanji said just now that I am addressing a public meeting for the first time after returning from China. That is not quite correct. because I addressed…
From the Red Fort: Nehru’s Independence Day Address, 1954

August 15, 1954

The Meaning of Freedom Brothers, sisters and friends, Greetings on the anniversary of Independence of new India. It has been seven years since this new India was bom, seven years since we became free. We celebrate this anniversary every year under the ramparts of Red Fort because on this day, for all of us, the…
What is the meaning of Nationalism?

June 1, 1954

Below is the portion of a speech delivered by Jawaharlal Nehru at a public meeting in Bhopal on June 01, 1954. To Nehru, Nationalism was to unite the country and contribute in unison to its progress. History points out two things, the first, as I said, is our internal feuds, and the second, our overweening pride and feeling…
Challenges in Administration

March 29, 1954

Speech of Jawaharlal Nehru at the inauguration of the Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, March 29, 1954. The first problem that one has to face on such an occasion as this is what language to speak in. Coming fresh from Parliament today, where there was some impatient talk on the language issue, this…
From the Red Fort: Nehru’s Independence Day Address, 1953

August 15, 1953

India Faces Tremendous Tasks Today is the sixth birthday of free India—the sixth anniversary of the day that we were re-born. Greetings to all of you on this occasion. We must first pay homage to the memory of that soul who was responsible for making India free, who breathed fresh life into a withered nation…
From the Red Fort: Nehru’s Independence Day Address, 1952

August 15, 1952

Five Years of Freedom Brothers and sisters, Today is the fifth anniversary of Indian Independence. Five years ago, on this day, we had assembled at this spot in the old city of Delhi and unfurled the flag of freedom from the ramparts of the Red Fort. It heralded the beginning of a new chapter in…
The Concept of Man

December 20, 1951

Speech at the UNESCO symposium, New Delhi, December 20, 1951 I am grateful to you for this opportunity of attending the last session of this Symposium. I must apologize for not having attended the opening session to welcome you all here. I looked forward to it greatly, not merely to perform the formal function of…
Jawaharlal Nehru on Museums

November 27, 1951

Speech at the Centenary celebration of the Madras Government Museum and the opening of the National Art Gallery, Madras, November 27, 1951. I am grateful to you for inviting me to inaugurate this Centenary Celebration because I am deeply interested in museums in my own layman’s way. I am not an expert in anything but…

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