Tryst with Destiny | Jawaharlal Nehru

 My Comment: simply magical speech! 

Key Excerpts from "Tryst with Destiny" (August 15, 1947):

The Promise: "Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not entirely or in full measure, but very substantially".

The Goal: "At the stroke of the midnight hour, while the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom".

The Mission: "The service of India means, the service of the millions who suffer. It means the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity".

The Future: "That future is not one of ease or resting but of incessant striving so that we may fulfill the pledges we have so often taken".

Unity: "All of us, to whatever religion we may belong, are equally the children of India with equal rights, privileges and obligations". 

Key Themes in Nehru's Speeches:

Nation Building: Focused on industrialization, education, and social development.

Secularism and Democracy: Promoted a pluralistic society and democratic values.

World Peace and Non-Alignment: Advocated for cooperation and neutrality during the Cold War. 

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Jawaharlal Nehru read a written, prepared speech rather than delivering it spontaneously for his famous "Tryst with Destiny" address on the midnight of August 14-15, 1947. 

Here are the key details regarding the creation and delivery of the speech:

Handwritten Draft: Unlike many politicians who relied on speechwriters, Nehru wrote the speech in his own hand.

Last-Minute Refinement: The speech was drafted under immense pressure and amid the crisis of Partition violence.

"Date" vs "Tryst": In his original handwritten draft, Nehru had written "date with destiny." His staff, upon seeing the typed copy, suggested replacing "date" with the more formal and solemn word "tryst" (inspired by a phrase often used by Abraham Lincoln or from literature), which he approved.

Delivery Context: He delivered the address to the Constituent Assembly in the Parliament House, reading from a document to mark the end of British colonial rule. 

While the speech was carefully drafted, it was delivered with immense emotional weight, as Nehru was deeply troubled by the violence in Lahore at the time of writing it. 

Osho on Nehru: 

Osho viewed Jawaharlal Nehru with a unique blend of respect and critique, often describing him as a "sensitive soul" who was essentially out of place in the world of politics. According to the OSHO Online Library, Nehru was more of a poet and a visionary than a diplomat, which Osho believed led to significant political oversights, such as the handling of Tibet and the border conflicts with China. 

Key Perspectives from Osho:

The "Non-Politician" Leader: Osho claimed Nehru was the "best politician" precisely because he wasn't one at heart. He felt Nehru was drawn to the freedom struggle by a sense of duty but lacked the "cunning" typically associated with political survival.

Personal Interactions: Osho recounted several meetings with Nehru, stating that while Nehru agreed with many of Osho's transformative ideas, he was fearful of the "collective mind" of the masses and believed society would crucify anyone who tried to change it too radically.

Political Critiques: Despite his personal affection, Osho was highly critical of Nehru's governance. He argued that Nehru's hesitation during the 1947–48 Kashmir conflict allowed Pakistan to retain a strategically vital part of the region.

The "Nehru Family" Legacy: Later in life, Osho's tone became harsher regarding the dynasty. He famously remarked that forty years of India's freedom were wasted by the Nehru family, from Jawaharlal to Rajiv Gandhi.