Category: Speech
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India not to Align with Power Blocs
Jawaharlal Nehru’s address to journalists, Bombay, 19 April 1949. I have always sought the goodwill, affection and cooperation of the Indian people and always obtained it in a generous and abundant measure. If I have achieved anything in life, it is because of that affection and goodwill. I feel now that at no time this…
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The Gandhian Approach to the Language Problem
Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech on laying the foundation stone of Central Institute of Education, Delhi University, 18 April 1949. Although I have to make preparations for my journey to London, I felt it necessary to be present here on this occasion in view of the importance of the work for which this Institute is meant. Sometimes, doubts assail me…
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India Belongs to its Citizens
Message to Jamiat-ul-Ulema-i-Hind Conference, 17 April 1949. I am convinced that the measure of India’s progress will be the measure of our giving full effect to what has been called a secular State. That, of course, does not mean a people lacking morals or religion. It means that while religion is completely free, the State,…
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Facing the Future
Jawaharlal Nehru’s address to the students of Delhi University, 9 April 1949. I like addressing students because I am eager to find out what sort of persons they are. Despite the revolutionary changes which have occurred, I hope they feel themselves strong enough to face anything the future holds in store for them. We have…
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Science and Progress
Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech at the foundation of the Palaeobotany Institute at Lucknow, 3 April 1949. Science, a scientific approach to problems and a scientific outlook, have to be developed if India has to progress in the modern world. Science is a search for truth. It is a rational method of looking at things in their…
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Agricultural Research in India
Address of Jawaharlal Nehru to the students of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 20 March 1949. The Indian Agricultural Research Institute was established in 1905 at Pusa in Bihar and later shifted to New Delhi in 1934. The primary function of the Institute includes the conducting of basic and applied research in the…
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Work and More Work
Convocation address of Jawaharlal Nehru at Lady Irwin College, New Delhi, 20 March 1949. Mrs. Rustomji Faridoonji [1] and Friends, Always at such functions there is an initial and primary difficulty about the language one should use, and sometimes that difficulty is got over by a bilingual effort. Well, Mrs. Rustomji tells me that I…
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Ramakrishna and Vivekananda
Speech of Jawaharlal Nehru at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, 20 March 1949. Swami [Ranganathananda] Ji, Brothers and Sisters, I am in a great dilemma because arrangements have been made to record my speech and broadcast it abroad. But since you are gathered here, it is but proper that I should speak in Hindi because it…
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Hindustani for English
Speech at a Conference of Prabasi Banga Sahitya Sammelan, New Delhi, 14 March 1949. I am glad to be participating in the Bengali Literary Conference. Culture is a thing where there is room for cooperation for everybody and I congratulate the Bengalees for having organized a literary conference to which they have invited representatives of all Indian literatures.…
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Danger of Disunity
Speech of Jawaharlal Nehru at a public meeting at Puri, Orissa, 12 March 1949. The British had not conquered this country after any big fight but they made the fullest use of the prevailing differences among Indians. India should sink all her differences now and stand solidly. The nation should be revitalized, which is necessary…