Summary of speeches:
Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech while presenting the Resolution:
As par Nehru, British Government had attached certain conditions on the Constituent Assembly, while establishing it. Assembly and its members were bound to follow those conditions. Although the members of Muslim League were absent, Nehru assured that the working of the Constituent Assembly would continue at all costs. Well this was clear message from the members sitting in Assembly to Muslim League, that people of India were having ardent desire to free this nation, whether they come or not. Was it reaction of leaders in response to Direct Action Day of 16th August, 1946 – A mass communal violence called by Muslim League in Bengal?
Although Assembly member, including those who were having staunch Hindu ideology, were trying to avoid controversy but they were united to draft the Constitution of this nation. To avoid controversies, they were trying to write a supreme law, which would safeguard rights of the citizen of Part B and Part C States at that time, including those of present Pakistan and Bangladesh, if they come and join the Assembly. Also they were bound to follow the limitations lid down by British Cabinet. To know more about the British Cabinet Mission, you have to read this series and comment your opinions.
The Resolution states that it is our firm and solemn resolve to have a sovereign Indian republic. The British rulers gave freedom to India under the title, “Dominion of India”. To become the republic and sovereign nation, the Constitution was necessary, and hence they joined the hands in the form of Constituent Assembly.
It was suggested to postpone the consideration of the very first resolution related to Constitution making, due to absence of Muslim League. But Nehru said that, this suggestion was not in accordance with the demand of the time. Because whole world was discussing about the procedures of the Constituent Assembly. People of India were eagerly waiting for freedom of India, and as per the conditions of Cabinet Mission, the key was Constitution, written in accordance with the British Cabinet Mission.
The resolution presented on that day, the very first resolution of the Constitution making, was containing only fundamentals. The resolution, in the form of a pledge was not imposing anything on the States against their will.
When Constituent Assembly started working, the merger of Princely States was not done, and people might choose to have a Raja or Nawab rule in their princely State, hence the first resolution did not considered the administration of the States. The Constituent Assembly was willing to have whole India at that time as the Republic of India, but Muslim League was in opposition of the said whole India concept, at least since 1940. The resolution was written in Hindustani and whole speech was also given in Hindustani.
After presenting the resolution, Jawaharlal Nehru again continued to speak. Where he pointed out that the resolution had the content of democracy. As word “Democratic” was not used in describing the status of India, after enactment of the Constitution, some of persons were not having doubt. In response to this, he pointed out that there are various forms/types of democracies and at that time, when many members were absent, it was hard to decide the form of democracy to be implemented in Independent India.
Further a question was raised regarding the use of word “Republic”. It was claimed that many of the princely states, which follow monarchy to rule, would not be happy. In response to this doubt, Nehru pointed out that in most of the corners of the world Monarchy was disappearing. Although British rule was monarchial rule, but independent India would not like any foreign monarch to rule again this nation and in India which monarch should become the monarch of whole India, would become the cause of great controversy. Hence the nation should be proclaimed as “Republic”.
December 3 – 6, 1946 The British Prime Minister Clement Atlee summoned Jawaharlal Nehru, Baldev Singh, MuhammedAli Jinnah and Liaqat Ali Khan for an extraordinary conference at 10 Dawning Street London. Hence Nehru shared his experience from his recent visit to England. He was not happy with that visit, which was done on summon from the Prime Minister of England, seeing no hopes of cheers and friendship from Britain towards India. This disappointment of Nehru clearly show that Britain was not ready to free India, and hence it was not so cooperative at that time.
As there was no trial of understanding the Indian problem, people outside always tried to give us advice. Nehru roared it clearly that the only, way to influence India is through friendship and co-operation and goodwill any attempt at imposition, the slightest trace of patronage, is resented and will be resented. But still people do not understand. Same thing is being said by each and every prime minister of independent Bharat, in this way or that way, as this is still happening, without understanding all the aspects.
But still people, who are sitting outside the nation and trying to influence people of India, try to advise us without any proper understanding of the problem. They even try to interfere in our matters. Why people across the globe are so free to advise us, and not using their resources to rectify their own problems? Take an example of European Union funded NGOs working in India.[1] Why EU is not using its resources to resolve Europe’s problems due to refugees and grooming of young girls from them, instead of poking in Caste structure of India and creating baseless narratives of caste supremacy and false stories?
Note: This article is completely based on Constituent Assembly Debates and only for knowledge purpose.
[1] https://idsn.org/
Read Previous Parts
CAD: Committee on Rules of Procedure
CAD: Election of the Permanent Chairman
CAD: Resolution to Proclaim Independence of India: Part 1
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