Lifestyle News Desk!!! That happy hour of midnight when we became free, we broke the chains of slavery. Know these 10 memorable historical sayings of Nehru, after hearing or reading which then and even today, people’s eyes shine with happiness or moisture.
1. Independence at midnight: Independence celebrations began at 11 pm on 14 August. One of the keynote speakers at the ceremony was our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru said, ‘At this midnight, when the whole world is in the throes of sleep, India is opening its eyes to an atmosphere of new life and freedom. This is a moment rarely seen in history, when we pass from the old to the new, and when an era comes to an end, and when the long-suppressed spirit of a nation suddenly finds its expression.’ Nehru gave this speech in English, but it still brought tears to the eyes of many people who did not know English.
2. Our tricolor was not bent: Nehru gave a memorable speech on the tricolor in the Lahore session of December 1929. Nehru said in his message, ‘At once you have to remember that this flag has now been hoisted. As long as even a single Indian man, woman, child is alive, this tricolor should not be hoisted.
3. Women victims of partition: Women had to bear the brunt of partition. Many cases of kidnapping and rape of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh women were reported. Later, when these women were able to return home due to government efforts, many women either did not want to go home or their families abandoned them, calling them ‘impure’. After independence, the number of women in brothels of Delhi and Mumbai increased significantly. Addressing these women through a radio programme, Nehru said, ‘The women who had to face all kinds of difficulties during partition should not think that we have any doubts about their character. We want to bring them back with love because it’s not their fault. We want to keep them in our home with great love. Such women will be given all possible help.
4. Nehru’s view of paradise: In October 1947, the peace of Kashmir was disturbed by tribal attacks by invaders from Pakistan. At that time Kashmir had not joined India. India prevented the increase in tribal attacks by sending troops in time. After peace was established in Kashmir, Nehru wrote to his sister, ‘I am confident that the Kashmiri people will decide the fate of Kashmir. As far as I am concerned, I have no objection to Kashmir being more or less independent. But it will be a cruel joke if Kashmir remains an exploited part of Pakistan.
5. Nehru’s anger during the debate in Parliament: The great advocate of giving the status of national language to Hindustani, R.V. Dhulekar had said during the proceedings of Parliament on 10 December 1946 that those who do not consider themselves Indians have no right to live in India. House and such persons are not eligible to become members if they are present in the House. They keep coming and going from here. An uproar started in the house on this matter. Seeing the uproar increasing, Nehru went on the stage and told the members, ‘This is not a public meeting in Jhansi that you get up and start giving your knowledge in a loud voice, brothers and sisters.
6. Nehru’s attitude towards minorities: From the creation of the country to the partition of the country, the concern for minorities emerged as a big challenge for Nehru. We will deal with this. I would say that minorities should not only be treated equally, but they should feel that they are not being discriminated against.
7. Nehru’s 95-minute speech: Elections were held for the first time in India in 1952. In this election, Nehru gave a speech of about 95 minutes long in a public meeting in Delhi. People liked that part of Nehru’s speech in which Nehru had said, ‘If any man lays hands on another man because of religion, I, as the head of the government, will fight him till my last breath.’
8. Stubborn Nehru: Nehru was very stubborn about some things. On 19 October 1952, Potti Sriramalu started a fast unto death demanding Andhra Pradesh. This fast got full support from the public. Even Nehru was aware of the status quo. Nehru wrote a letter to Madras Chief Minister Rajagopalachari on 3 December, saying, ‘Hansan-like incidents have started regarding the demands of Andhra Pradesh and I am receiving disturbing telegrams in this regard. I am not affected by this at all and want to ignore it completely. But 12 days after this letter, Sriramlu died on 15 December, the 58th day of his fast. As soon as the news of the death was heard, the entire Andhra Pradesh was engulfed in violence. In view of the violence, two days after Sriramalu’s death, Nehru agreed to the creation of the state of Andhra Pradesh.
9. Nehru’s biggest problem: After independence, many leaders and citizens had to face many problems in the construction of India. French writer Melraux once asked Nehru about his biggest problem after independence. Then Nehru said, ‘The biggest problem for me is to build an egalitarian society through means only. Perhaps creating a secular state in a religious country is also becoming a problem for me.
10. When Nehru accepted defeat: 26 November 1962, the day when Prime Minister Nehru announced India’s defeat to the Chinese army on radio. Nehru said, ‘These Chinese forces attacked us and these people entered our country from the Eastern Frontier Province of NEFA and attacked our military personnel. After this a fierce war took place. The Chinese deployed such a large army there that they overpowered our small army. Nehru was deeply shocked by the defeat at the hands of China and after about one and a half year of defeat at the hands of China, Nehru breathed his last on 27 May 1964, thereby ending an era.
