" We have gathered here on a historic occasion at this ancient fort to win back what was ours. This flag does not symbolize the triumph of individuals or the Congress but the triumph of the whole country.
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The free flag of India is the symbol of freedom and democracy not only for India but for the whole world. India, Asia and the world must rejoice on this great day."__ Jawaharlal Nehru.
Taken from a speech at the Red Fort, Delhi, 16 August 1947. Based on reports from The Hindustan Times, 17 August and the Indian News Chronicle and The Statesman, 18 August 1947.
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Reference __ Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Series 2, Volume 4 (August 1947_December 1947) , page number 2.
" On this day we must remember those who have made sacrifices and suffered for the cause of independence. It is needless for me to name all of them, but I cannot help mentioning Subhas Chandra Bose who left this country and formed the Indian National Army abroad
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and fought bravely for the freedom of the country. He hoisted this flag in foreign countries and when the day came for hoisting it on the Red Fort, he was not to see his dream fulfilled.
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This should have been the day of his return, but alas he is no longer in this world. "__ Jawaharlal Nehru.
" This fort has witnessed many vicissitudes. You also know what happened during the last 27 years when we struggled and made sacrifices under this flag. I need not tell you all that happened during this period.
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What is worth recalling is that we had taken a pledge that we shall lay down our lives for the honour and dignity of this flag and would never allow it to be lowered what -ever might be the consequences. That pledge has been fulfilled. "__ Jawaharlal Nehru.
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Taken from a speech at the Red Fort, Delhi, 16 August 1947. Based on reports from The Hindustan Times, 17 August and the Indian News Chronicle and The Statesman, 18 August 1947.
" Long years ago... we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially.
At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.
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A moment comes, which comes, but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.
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It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.
" When I talk about an independent foreign policy for India, other people talk about the neutral attitude of India. I object to the word "neutral" . We are not neutral. We have positive ideas .
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When we talk of an independent foreign policy for India, some countries criticize it and do not understand it. They ask " what is this"? Yet, in the final analysis, what does an independent policy for India mean?
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It means refusal to be pushed about by others this way or that way. It means deciding what you want to do yourself. You may decide in favour of cooperating with this person or that person,
" His achievements are tremendous. But the biggest achievement of all was the way he influenced these people and made them better than they were. Therefore, we have to think of him not in a legendary way but as a man, the greatest amongst
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us, gentle and wise, a man of faith and, at the same time, a man of action. Above all, we have to think of the principles for which he stood and which he impressed upon India. Thus we shall, in a small measure, be true to him and his teachings."~Jawaharlal Nehru.
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Taken from the Foreword to the Hindi edition of Mahatma Gandhi Caritra , a short biography in Marathi by Narayan Sitaram Phadke ( Bombay , 1951). New Delhi , 22 May 1953. File No.9/148/53-PMS.
" We have had in the past great leaders, and the greatest of them all was Mahatma Gandhi. But what we want today is not a few great leaders,
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but we should have hundreds of thousands of leaders in every village and in every town, so that the people should not look up to some great leader.
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These leaders should have the courage and initiative to help the people of that village and cooperate in the larger activities of the nation."__Jawaharlal Nehru.
Taken from the speech at a public meeting in Madurai, 3 October 1953. AIR tapes, N.M.M.L.. Extracts.