The Letter Which Sealed Indian Independence

With the end of WWII, the former colonies of the European powers now clamored for independence, and among the loudest voices came from India one of Great Britain’s largest colonies. They finally achieved that freedom in 1947 after almost 200 years of colonial rule. This independence was marked by a speech by Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, and went down in history as the “Tryst with Destiny”.

End of Indian Colonization

The leadup to this letter was a chaotic time for India as the nation grappled with the aftermath of WWII and Great Britain’s attempts to regain control of the nation. The independence movement of India has existed since the early 20th century and gained traction with the two World Wars as prominent figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Subhas Chandra Bose, emerged who advocated peaceful resistance and civil disobedience for their goal.

WWII only inflamed the situation as it left the British Empire badly weakened economically and militarily, making it difficult to maintain control of their different colonies. India saw this as an opportunity to achieve their long-awaited independence. For the next two years, the Indian National Congress petitioned for independence. They would send out a flurry of letters, discussions, and delegations to negotiate for their freedom.

Throughout this time, the National Congress had to overcome many challenges such as the the religious disputes between Muslims and Hindus and British resistance to Indian independence. Despite these hardships, Great Britain finally agreed to grant Indian Independence in 1947.

India was far from the only country that experienced such growing pains in their independent movement. Many nations experienced similar chaotic transitions as they developed into countries. One of the most difficult independent movements had to be Israel which experienced war just months after declaring statehood.

On the eve of independence, August 14, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, who would become the first Prime Minister of independent India, delivered his iconic “Tryst with Destiny” speech in the Constituent Assembly. This speech, which was also circulated as a letter to world leaders and dignitaries, encapsulated the hopes, dreams, and challenges that lay ahead for the new nation. As midnight approached, India was officially declared independent, and Nehru’s words resonated with the aspirations of millions who had fought for this moment.

“Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny. Now the time has come when we shall redeem our pledge – not wholly or in full measure – but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.”

-Jawaharlal Nehru, Former Prime Minister of India

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