”The Government of India Act 1930 is the symbol of our power, of our strength and the future of the Indian people and nation. Together as one group we marched, as one nation we spoke, and as one people we shall strike out and shape our new future. The British listened for they had no other choice and they have consented in the next step towards Indian self-rule.
There is no doubt that provincial government is far from our goal, and we will without doubt continue relentlessly to fight for our status as a nation. But Britain has recognized our status as a people and a nation within the Empire, within this British Commonwealth. The establishment of the Indian Federal Court, for the legal cases of India to be tried here, not far away in Britain is major step towards the recognition of not just Britain, but the world as a whole of our just cause and the strength of our movement.
The main topic of our meeting here today however is that of the Indian Electoral Commission in which I, among others, sit to decide the future of the districts which will form the basis of our democratic nation. Britain herself has presented several points in regards to the electoral circles, the rights and securities of minorities, which after long consultations with Mahātmā Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi are elements upon which we agree. Our India will be one of the largest nations in the world, not simply in mere terms of landmass, but of people, people from all walks of life with diversity of religion, backgrounds, wealth. A never ending list and all must be guaranteed and have their voiced heard, a democratic nation, without discrimination of any sort, is that which is our ultimate goal for India. For only through this democracy can we unite the people behind our new nation, behind a common ideal, behind a common purpose.
But for that purpose, these new election districts must represent all of India. There will not and cannot be several federations of India, or several Indias. We are not British India, we are not Mysore, we are not Hyderabad, we are not Travancore. We are India! The new Federation must incorporate all of them, represent all of them and so these various Princely States must become a part of the new Federation, a part of the Provincial elections. The Princely States must be incorporated into the new federation, into our elections, we are a people, we are to be a nation, not five, and the incorporation of the Princely States must be one of our main objectives. Both in these negotiations with the British, but also in the construction of the new Indian State.”
Opening of Nehru’s speech in front of the Indian National Congress at which they set their aims for the Indian Electoral Commission.
There is no doubt that provincial government is far from our goal, and we will without doubt continue relentlessly to fight for our status as a nation. But Britain has recognized our status as a people and a nation within the Empire, within this British Commonwealth. The establishment of the Indian Federal Court, for the legal cases of India to be tried here, not far away in Britain is major step towards the recognition of not just Britain, but the world as a whole of our just cause and the strength of our movement.
The main topic of our meeting here today however is that of the Indian Electoral Commission in which I, among others, sit to decide the future of the districts which will form the basis of our democratic nation. Britain herself has presented several points in regards to the electoral circles, the rights and securities of minorities, which after long consultations with Mahātmā Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi are elements upon which we agree. Our India will be one of the largest nations in the world, not simply in mere terms of landmass, but of people, people from all walks of life with diversity of religion, backgrounds, wealth. A never ending list and all must be guaranteed and have their voiced heard, a democratic nation, without discrimination of any sort, is that which is our ultimate goal for India. For only through this democracy can we unite the people behind our new nation, behind a common ideal, behind a common purpose.
But for that purpose, these new election districts must represent all of India. There will not and cannot be several federations of India, or several Indias. We are not British India, we are not Mysore, we are not Hyderabad, we are not Travancore. We are India! The new Federation must incorporate all of them, represent all of them and so these various Princely States must become a part of the new Federation, a part of the Provincial elections. The Princely States must be incorporated into the new federation, into our elections, we are a people, we are to be a nation, not five, and the incorporation of the Princely States must be one of our main objectives. Both in these negotiations with the British, but also in the construction of the new Indian State.”
Opening of Nehru’s speech in front of the Indian National Congress at which they set their aims for the Indian Electoral Commission.