India gained freedom from the British rule on August 15, 1947 after a long independence movement. On 15 August 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, who became the first prime minister of India, raised the Indian national flag above the Lahore Gate of the Red Fort in New Delhi. The Constituent Assembly of India met at 11 pm on 14 August at the Constitution Hall in New Delhi. In this session, Nehru delivered the “Tryst with Destiny” speech proclaiming India's independence. In the speech Nehru pledged his government's dedicated service to the people of India and its all-round progress.
“The achievement we celebrate today is but a step, an opening of opportunity, to the greater triumphs and achievements that await us. Are we brave enough and wise enough to grasp this opportunity and accept the challenge of the future? Freedom and power bring responsibility. The responsibility rests upon this assembly, a sovereign body representing the sovereign people of India. Before the birth of freedom we have endured all the pains of labour and our hearts are heavy with the memory of this sorrow. Some of those pains continue even now. Nevertheless, the past is over and it is the future that beckons to us now.
“That future is not one of ease or resting but of incessant striving so that we might fulfil the pledges we have so often taken and the one we shall take today. 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 ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye. That may be beyond us, but as long as there are tears and suffering, so long our work will not be over.
“And so we have to labour and to work, and work hard, to give reality to our dreams. Those dreams are for India, but they are also for the world, for all the nations and peoples are too closely knit together today for anyone of them to imagine that it can live apart. Peace has been said to be indivisible; so is freedom, so is prosperity now, and so also is disaster in this one world that can no longer be split into isolated fragments. To the people of India, whose representatives we are, we make an appeal to join us with faith and confidence in this great adventure. This is no time for petty and destructive criticism, no time for ill will or blaming others. We have to build the noble mansion of free India where all her children may dwell.”
Nehru and his government had taken some bold steps for the progress and prosperity of India and its people. When we gained freedom India was lacking in many fields. The five-year plans, the socialist models were some of the steps introduced by the Nehru government. Now India is on its way to one of the leading economies of the world mainly due to the far-sighted measures taken by our founding fathers.
Modi's vision for India's progress
Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India on promises of creating much-needed jobs, attracting investment, cutting red-tape and cleaning up corrupt government. In his I-Day speech on August 15, 2014, Modi paid tributes to the farmers by saying, “This country was not built by politicians or rulers or governments. It was built by our farmer and working class. We must walk together, think together, and make a determination to take the nation ahead together.”
He said, “We have to rise above 'mera kya - mujhe kya'; some things have to be done for greater national good. We should shun the self-centred attitude of what is it in for me, rather focus on country's welfare.”
Jan Dhan Yojana - we want to integrate the poorest of the poor with bank accounts. We believe in 'Jan Bhagidari' (people's participation in governance). We believe in taking everyone together. Have we ever thought of utilizing the power of our youth? India needs skilled workforce. Skill development will be towards job creation and empowering the youth with skills. That is progress.
"Come, Make in India" was Modi's matra on making India a manufacturing hub. Modi says “sell anywhere but manufacture here.” Let us come together and think of ways India does not have to import but we export goods to the world.
We should work towards becoming 'Digital India' with e-governance: Let us think about zero-defect production with no adverse effect on the environment. E-Governance is easy governance, effective governance. We have to move towards 'Digital India'. We import electronic goods, but if we start manufacturing these it will benefit India. We need to clean the filth from our country. We should pledge that we will work towards keeping our nation clean. In 2019, ensuring cleanliness will be the most fitting tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary. It is a shame that our women have to wait for darkness to go out in the open to defecate.
Every school should have toilets. There should be separate toilets for girls. Appeal to MPs and corporates to come forward for this. We'll decide on parameters for the villages to make them progressive, I will ask the MPs to work for at least one village. There are many schemes named after leaders. Modi announced a scheme in the name of Parliament - Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana.
Modi is another prime minister who has dedicated his life for the wholehearted progress of the country. He has taken several measures to revive the economy and inculcate a sense of confidence among the people. Give him support so that he can take India to new heights.
