Read the extracts from Nehru’s speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’ and answer the following: a) Why did Nehru use the expression “not wholly or in full measure” in the first sentence? b) What pledge did he want the makers of the Indian Constitution to take? c) “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye”. Who was he referring to?
Read the extracts from Nehru’s speech ‘Tryst with Destiny’ and answer the following: a) Why did Nehru use the expression “not wholly or in full measure” in the first sentence? b) What pledge did he want the makers of the Indian Constitution to take? c) “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye”. Who was he referring to?
a) The pledge was to give freedom and equality to all the people of India. Although freedom was achieved there was a lot more that needed to be done since, through the constitution, people were given political equality but more work was needed to be done to bring equality in social and economic spheres of life. There was a lot of poverty when India gained independence. Fulfilling the demands of all the people in a country as diverse as India could not be done in full measure in a short span of time, but with passage of time, the people in the position of power would substantially solve the problems and meet the aspirations of the citizens of India.
b)After Independence, the leaders of the Constituent Assembly which was a sovereign body, were representing the sovereign people of India. With power and freedom comes the responsibility. He said that the hearts and minds of people were filled with sorrows of the past, they had endured a lot of pain to get the freedom. He said the pain and sorrows of the people were still lingering in their minds and hearts. He wanted us to look forward and forget the past. He told the leaders that the future is not easy and they have to work incessantly to alleviate the sufferings of the people. He wanted the leaders to serve millions of Indian people who were suffering. He wanted to fulfill the pledge of ending the inequality in opportunities, he wanted to bring an end to ignorance and poverty.
c)He was referring to Mahatma Gandhi. He said that as long as there was suffering and tears in the eyes of the people, their work will not be over.
a) The pledge was to give freedom and equality to all the people of India. Although freedom was achieved there was a lot more that needed to be done since, through the constitution, people were given political equality but more work was needed to be done to bring equality in social and economic spheres of life. There was a lot of poverty when India gained independence. Fulfilling the demands of all the people in a country as diverse as India could not be done in full measure in a short span of time, but with passage of time, the people in the position of power would substantially solve the problems and meet the aspirations of the citizens of India.
b)After Independence, the leaders of the Constituent Assembly which was a sovereign body, were representing the sovereign people of India. With power and freedom comes the responsibility. He said that the hearts and minds of people were filled with sorrows of the past, they had endured a lot of pain to get the freedom. He said the pain and sorrows of the people were still lingering in their minds and hearts. He wanted us to look forward and forget the past. He told the leaders that the future is not easy and they have to work incessantly to alleviate the sufferings of the people. He wanted the leaders to serve millions of Indian people who were suffering. He wanted to fulfill the pledge of ending the inequality in opportunities, he wanted to bring an end to ignorance and poverty.
c)He was referring to Mahatma Gandhi. He said that as long as there was suffering and tears in the eyes of the people, their work will not be over.
