Jawaharlal Nehru: Speeches on the Granting of Indian Independence

Questions for Further Study

• 1.: A prominent theme of Nehru's speeches is the concept of self-rule. Compare Nehru's conception of Indian self-rule with similar aspirations in other countries. Possible entries to consult include Nelson Mandela's Inaugural Address, the Proclamation of the Algerian National Liberation Front, Patrice Lumumba's Speech at the Proclamation of Congolese Independence, or the Proclamation of the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic.
• 2.: A significant number of Milestone Documents have to do with India; among them are the British Regulating Act, Queen Victoria's Proclamation concerning India, the Government of India Act of 1919, Mahatma Gandhi's Quit India Speech, the Constitution of India, and the Lahore Resolution—as well as Nehru's speeches. Why do you think historians regard the history of India and its relationship with the British Empire as so important? What themes in this history have worldwide resonance? Explain.
• 3.: Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi are arguably the two most important and well-known figures in modern Indian history. Compare their speeches, consulting the entry Mahatma Gandhi's Quit India Speech. What similar rhetorical devices do they use? How do they appeal to their audiences? Who do you think was the most effective writer?
• 4.: In his speeches about the granting of Indian independence from British rule, Nehru does not mention the British. Why?
• 5.: Nehru gave considerable emphasis to the concept of secularism. In contrast, a figure such as the Ayatollah Khomeini from Iran, in his Islamic Government: Governance of the Jurist, argues for government based on the principles of Islam. Which of the two forms of government is likely to be more successful in the modern world? Explain your reasoning.