In his first radio address to the nation after Independence, Jawaharlal Nehru described himself as the “First Servant of the Indian people”, which in Hindi would translate as ‘Pratham Sevak’. (Prime Minister Narendra Modi has since declared himself the nation’s ‘Pradhan Sevak’ too.

On this 75th Republic Day of India, 26 January 2024, as an incessant campaign seeks to derail it from its moorings through the politicisation of religion, it seems timely to reproduce Nehru’s first address to the nation on 15 August 1947, in which he outlined the vision and tasks for an independent India.

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Radio broadcast,15 August 1947:

Fellow countrymen, it has been my privilege to serve India and the cause of India’s freedom for many years.

I am here because you willed it so, and I remain here so long as you choose to honour me with your confidence.

We have achieved much; we have to achieve much more. Let us then address ourselves to our new tasks with the determination and adherence to high principles that our great leader has taught us. Gandhiji is fortunately with us to guide and inspire, and to point us to the path of high endeavour.

If we aim at the big things of life, if we dream of India as a great nation giving her age-old message of peace and freedom to others, then we have to be big ourselves and be worthy children of........

© National Herald