Messages on January 26, 1950

Messages on January 26, 1950

FPJ BureauUpdated: Friday, May 31, 2019, 06:42 PM IST
article-image
Jawaharlal Nehru |

Prime Minister Pandit Nehru, in a Republic Day Message issued today, made an appeal to the nation to “found our republican freedom” on the basic factors — high character, integrity of mind and purpose, a spirit of tolerance and co-operation and hard work— stressed by Gandhiji throughout his career.

Pandit Nehru added: “ I can only suggest to our people that we should found our Republican Freedom on these basic characteristics and shed fear and hatred from our minds and think always of  the betterment of the millions of our people.”

The Prime Minister in his message said: Events crowd in upon us and because of this quick succession we are apt to miss their significance. Some of us give messages on each occasion exhorting people to great endeavour and even these messages becomes stale for repetition.

Yet, undoubtedly, January 26 1950, is a day of high significance for India and the Indian people. It does mean the consummation of one important phase of our national struggle. That journey is over, to give place to another and perhaps more arduous journey. A pledge is fulfilled and every fulfillment of a pledge gives satisfaction and strength for future endeavor.

There is a peculiar appropriateness about January 26, this year for this day links up the past with the present, and this present is seen to grow out of that past.

Twenty years ago we took the first pledge of Independence. During these 20 years we have known struggle and conflict and failure and achievement. The man who led us through apparent failure to achievement is no more with us, but the fruit of his labours is ours. What we do with this fruit depends upon ourselves.

The progress of a nation is dependent upon many factors, the basic factors are those on which Gandhiji laid stress throughout his career– high character, integrity of mind and purpose, a spirit of tolerance and co-operation and hard work.

I can only suggest to our people that we should found our Republican Freedom on these basic characteristics and shed fear and hatred from our minds and think always of the betterment of the millions of our people.

We are fortunate to witness this emergence of the Republic of India and our successors may well envy us this day but fortune is a hostage which has to be jealously guarded by our own good works and which has a tendency to slip away if we slacken in our efforts or if we look in wrong directions. — Jai Hind

Hard work ahead, quips Patel

Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Deputy Prime Minister, has issued the following message:

“Exactly 20 years ago from today, the people of India took a solemn pledge of complete independence. Behind that pledge was the determination of a whole people and the strength which comes to faith in one’s destiny. Although we obtained independence on the 15th of August 1947, it was not complete in the sense of the pledge that we took. Today, by the grace of God, that pledge has been completely fulfilled.

On this auspicious occasion, it is quite natural that our thoughts should turn to the Father of the Nation under whose inspiration and guidance we took that pledge and due to whose leadership we achieve success in our mission.

Unhappily he is not amongst us, but he is watching us from above and I have no doubt his blessing and good wishes are with us on this supreme occasion in our National history.”

Mountbatten greets

Lord Mountbatten: “I was so closely associated with the transfer of power from British to Indian hands and with the early stages of India’s Independence that my thoughts will be more than ever with India when the final stage is reached and she becomes an Independent Sovereign Republic on 26th January 1950, 894 days after her Independence.

You and I have always worked together in complete harmony and though we started, so to speak, from opposite sides, yet we soon saw that there was a common goal which we could both strive for, knowing it to be equally in the interest of India and the Commonwealth.

On January 26, that goal will have been reached, and on behalf of my wife and myself I send to you and through you to all the peoples of India our affectionate good wisher for her future, prosperity and greatness. –Jai Hind.”

President Prasad’s message

“We must rededicate ourselves on this day to the peaceful but sure realisation of the dream that had inspired the Father of our Nation and the other captains and soldiers of our Freedom struggle, the dream of establishing a classless co-operative, free and happy society in this country.

We must remember that this is more a day of dedication than of rejoicing — dedication to the glorious task of making the peasants and workers, the  toilers and the thinkers fully free, happy and cultured.

We must not forget even for a moment that ours is a tremendous responsibility — of carrying into each cottage and home of this country the message of cheer and culture, of freedom and prosperity, of life and light.

Our people made the contribution of each and all— the experience of the aged and the energy of the youth, the strong resolve of warriors and the tender care of the sisters.

We must remember that our future is in our hands and it shall be what we make of it. We must all throw ourselves into unceasing and incessant creative activity on the farms and factories, in the school rooms and the laboratories, in the Council Chambers and the administrative offices. Let not a minute, nay, even a second, be wasted in idle patter or destructive action — and God willing ours shall be a country full of milk and honey in the near future.”

C.Rajagopalachari’s farewell broadcast

“On the eve of my leaving down office with the inauguration of the Republic tomorrow I should like to tender my greetings and my best wishes to the men and women of India who will henceforth be citizens of the Republic. I feel deeply thankful for the affection showered on me by all sections of the people, which alone enabled me to bear the burden of an office to the duties and conventions of which I had been an utter stranger.

I am confident our Government will overcome all difficulties and that we shall march steadily forward.”

RECENT STORIES

Editorial: Need To Look After The Aged

Editorial: Need To Look After The Aged

Analysis: Anonymous Electoral Bonds Reined In — But What About Anonymous Cash Donations?

Analysis: Anonymous Electoral Bonds Reined In — But What About Anonymous Cash Donations?

Editorial: Government Cannot Be Run From Jail

Editorial: Government Cannot Be Run From Jail

Decentralisation Can Build Better Cities

Decentralisation Can Build Better Cities

Analysis: Elections Are The True Test Of Democracy

Analysis: Elections Are The True Test Of Democracy