Effect of Jawaharlal Nehru and Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s Independence Day Speeches

on the Countries of India and Pakistan

By Aman Sethi
 Aman Sethi
AP English 11-4
Mr. Powles
th
18 August 2009

The independence of Pakistan and India from British rule was an event of

significant importance. To commemorate the momentous day, the leaders of the

newly created countries gave speeches to the people of the new countries near the

stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947. The speeches, Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Tryst with

Destiny” speech and Mohammed Ali Jinnah’s “Message to the Nation” speech were

meant to not only commemorate the auspicious days, but to create a sense of national

identity and pride in a time of trouble and bloodshed taking place near the borders of

the newly created nations. Though discussing similar matters, Nehru’s “Tryst with

Destiny” speech, with the greater effective use of rhetoric and literary devices, is far

more compelling in creating a sense of national identity and pride that Jinnah’s

“Message to the Nation” speech. By focusing on the similar aspects of both speeches,

and observing the differing use of language and rhetoric, it can be observed how the

language in the “Tryst with Destiny” speech makes it far more compelling than in the

“Message to the Nation” speech.

A similarity that both the “Tryst with Destiny” speech and the “Message to the

Nation” speech share is that both the speeches discuss the role of the newly created

countries in the world. In several points in both speeches, Nehru and Jinnah both

discuss the place of their nation in the world order. Jinnah states in his speech, “Our

object should be peace within and peace without,” which with its obscure language,

creates discord and confusion between the language and the intended meaning.

However, in Nehru’s “Tryst with Destiny” speech, Nehru says that the goal of the

leaders of the new country is to “wipe every tear from every eye.” This language is

euphonic, helping to highlight the underlying message of the phrase. Another

Page 2 of 7
 Aman Sethi
AP English 11-4
Mr. Powles
th
18 August 2009

statement in Jinnah’s “Message to the Nation” speech is the statement “We have no

ambition beyond the desire to live honourably and let others live honourably.” This

statement while repeating the idea of living honourably is apathetic towards anything

above and beyond that. Nehru however uses the phrase “we take the pledge of

dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of

humanity.” and this phrase uses personification and hyperbole to get its point across.

The personification of India expresses India as something that can be serviced

The two speeches given by Nehru and Jinnah also refer to the role of the

citizens of these new countries that had just arisen. Both Nehru and Jinnah deal with

the issue of citizenship and minorities in completely differing ways. “Let us” said

Jinnah “impress on the minorities by word, deed and thought that as long as they

fulfill their duties and obligations as loyal citizens of Pakistan, they have nothing to

fear.” This phrase represents partition, as Jinnah divides the country between ‘us’ as

in Muslims, and ‘them’, as in the minorities. Jinnah’s diction in this case is

ambiguous as well, and can be interpreted to constitute a veiled threat. Nehru mostly

avoids the issue, but in one part of the speech states, “All of us, to whatever religion

we may belong, are equally the children of India with equal rights, privileges and

obligations.” This statement, by personifying India, and portraying all the citizens as

“her children”, reinforces the bond between India’s populations by likening it to a

bond between siblings. In addition, while Nehru’s speech is secularized, Jinnah’s

speech makes numerous references to a “Muslim Nation,” and uses phrases like “Let

the Muslim congregations … in all the mosques, bow in all humility before the

Almighty.” Thus, while Nehru’s speech addresses India as a whole, Jinnah’s speech

Page 3 of 7
 Aman Sethi
AP English 11-4
Mr. Powles
th
18 August 2009

places emphasis on Muslims, and in doing so leaves out the minorities, creating

division.

The two speeches, particularly the “Tryst with Destiny” speech deals a fair bit

with what could only be called ‘ambition.’ The speech deals with what the two

leaders want their country to become. In Jinnah’s speech, this aspect is glossed over

and only described very plainly without emphasis. However, in Nehru’s speech, the

elegant use of language makes the speech more potent, and inspires a sense of duty

towards the country. Jinnah’s states in his speech how a nation should “containing

many elements, live in peace and amity and work for the betterment of all.” While

this states the goal of the betterment of all, the broad generalization with the use of the

word “betterment,” and conservativeness of the goals makes the statement uninspiring

and generally dull. Nehru, however, in the “Tryst with Destiny” speech uses the

phrase “the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of

opportunity.” The use of multiple conjunctions aids in emphasizing each social ill,

and thus the speech lays out specific problems to tackle. Following this phrase is the

phrase “And so we have to labour and to work, and work hard, to give reality to our

dreams.” With the repetition of the idea of work, Nehru places emphasis on the labour

that is required to achieve their ambitions. The pursuit of lofty goals helps in inspiring

pride in the country and its leadership.

Destiny and appointment are also central ideas in Nehru’s and Jinnah’s

independence day speeches. The attribution of independence to destiny or Allah

portrays the event as inevitable and right. However, while both speeches view a

higher purpose as a cause of the independence, Nehru’s speech uses the idea to far

greater effect than Jinnah’s speech. The opening line in Nehru’s speech is “Long ago

Page 4 of 7
 Aman Sethi
AP English 11-4
Mr. Powles
th
18 August 2009

we made a tryst with destiny.” which personifies destiny. The line also uses the word

“tryst” which implies a higher purpose in the world for India. The idea is further

reinforced in the line “At the dawn of history India started on her unending quest.”

Thus, Nehru implies the idea of India as a nation on the way to greatness, to meet

with destiny. To Jinnah however, independence “marks the fulfillment of the destiny

of the Muslim nation,” which implies that the countries role is already fulfilled, and

there is nothing to aspire towards. Jinnah also states “Let us, on this day, humbly

thank God for His bounty and pray that we might be able to prove that we are worthy

of it.” which gives the impression that Pakistan is already what it was meant to be,

and cannot go further.

Both Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s “Message to the Nation” and Jawaharlal

Nehru’s “Tryst with Destiny” speech are meant to inspire national pride and identity.

However, Nehru’s “Tryst with Destiny” speech is far better at this task than Jinnah’s

“Message to the Nation” speech for several reasons. For one, the “Tryst with Destiny”

speech with its hyperbolic use of language presents India as a nation to be of great

importance in the world and its affairs. Jinnah on the other hand portrays Pakistan as a

country that will be isolated and play a minimal role in world affairs. Another point is

that Nehru does not mention differences in the people, and instead finds the common

threads that link the people of India together, inspiring a national identity. Jinnah

however focuses on the fact that Pakistan is a Muslim nation, and differentiates

between Muslims and others, dividing the people of Pakistan. The “Message to the

Nation” speech does not display any ambition either, and uses generalizations,

indicating ineffectiveness on the part of the leaders. “Tryst with Destiny” however

presents focused goals and emphasizes the work involved, indicating to the citizens

Page 5 of 7
 Aman Sethi
AP English 11-4
Mr. Powles
th
18 August 2009

that the leaders know what they are doing. Jinnah implies in his speech that Pakistan’s

destiny has been fulfilled with independence, while Nehru presents a still greater

purpose for India. Thus, this presents the people of India with a purpose. Therefore,

the “Tryst with Destiny” speech stands as a representative speech to inspire feelings

of national pride and identity in the people of a new nation.

Word Count: 1,321

Page 6 of 7
 Aman Sethi
AP English 11-4
Mr. Powles
th
18 August 2009

Bibliography
:
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Euphony. 18 August 2009
<http://www3.merriam-webster.com/opendictionary/>

On my honor, I pledge that I have neither given nor received improper assistance in
completing this task.

__________________________________
Aman Sethi

Page 7 of 7