Chapter 9
Two Memorable Speeches
Q:1 When did Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru deliver his famous “Tryst with Destiny” speech?
Ans: Nehru delivered his speech on the midnight of August 14, 1947, in the Lok Sabha, addressing the nation at the exact moment India gained independence.
Q:2 What did Nehru mean by saying India had made a “tryst with destiny”?
Ans: He meant that India had long planned and worked for freedom, and that moment marked the fulfillment of that promise to itself and its people.
Q:3 How did Nehru describe India’s awakening at midnight?
Ans: He said that at the stroke of midnight, while the world slept, India would awaken to freedom, signaling the end of colonial rule and the beginning of independence.
Q:4 What message did Nehru give to the press on August 15, 1947?
Ans: Nehru described the day as a fateful moment for India, Asia, and the world, marking the rise of a new star of freedom and the realization of a long-cherished vision of independence.
Q:5 How did Nehru describe the responsibilities of the citizens of India after independence?
Ans: He said citizens must bring freedom and opportunity to the common people, end poverty, ignorance, and disease, build a prosperous, democratic, and progressive nation, and create institutions ensuring justice and fullness of life for everyone.
Q:6 What did Nehru mean when he said “the future beckons to us”?
Ans: He meant that India had a bright future ahead, calling its citizens to work hard, take responsibility, and live up to the high standards that freedom demanded.
Q:7 What did Nehru emphasize about hard work after independence?
Ans: He emphasized that there was no resting for any citizen until India fulfilled its pledge to achieve freedom, justice, and prosperity for all its people.
Q:8 Explain the phrase “May the star never set” from Nehru’s speech.
Ans: The “star” refers to India’s independence and freedom. Nehru hoped that India’s freedom would endure forever and that the nation’s hope and progress would never be betrayed.
Q:9 What did Nehru identify as India’s main tasks in the post-independence era?
Ans: India’s main tasks included ending poverty and ignorance, ensuring health and welfare, providing opportunities to peasants and workers, and building a just and prosperous society.
Q:10 How did Nehru convey the importance of democracy in his speech?
Ans: Nehru stressed that democracy was essential for creating social, economic, and political institutions that ensured justice and equality, which were vital for India’s progress.
Q:11 How does Nehru’s speech reflect his vision for India?
Ans: The speech reflects Nehru’s vision of India as a free, democratic, prosperous, and progressive nation where citizens work together to overcome poverty, ignorance, and injustice.
Q:12 What did Nehru mean by “redeem our pledges”?
Ans: He meant fulfilling the promises and responsibilities that independence brought, such as justice, equality, and development for all citizens.
Q:13 Why did Nehru call India’s independence a fateful moment for all Asia?
Ans: Because India’s freedom inspired other countries in Asia under colonial rule to aspire for their own independence and self-determination.
Q:14 What role did Nehru assign to the common people in the new India?
Ans: He emphasized that the common people, including peasants and workers, were central to India’s development, and efforts must be made to improve their lives and opportunities.
Q:15 How does Nehru connect India’s independence to a larger global context?
Ans: He suggested that India’s freedom was not only significant for its citizens but also a symbol of hope and progress for the entire East and the world.
Q:16 When and why did Swami Vivekananda deliver his famous speech in Chicago?
Ans: Swami Vivekananda delivered the speech in 1893 at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago to represent India and promote the ideas of universal tolerance and acceptance of all religions.
Q:17 How did Vivekananda begin his speech, and why is it significant?
Ans: He began with “Brothers and sisters of America,” which was significant because it immediately established warmth, inclusiveness, and a universal sense of fraternity.
Q:18 What did Vivekananda mean by accepting “all religions as true”?
Ans: He meant that every religion has value and truth, and no single religion should claim exclusivity or superiority over others.
Q:19 What was Vivekananda proud of regarding India’s history?
Ans: He was proud that India had historically given shelter to persecuted people and refugees from all religions and nations.
Q:20 What did Vivekananda fervently hope for in his speech?
Ans: He hoped for the end of fanaticism, persecution, and uncharitable feelings, and for a world where all religions coexist peacefully.
Q:21 How did Vivekananda describe the Parliament of Religions’ success?
Ans: He said it proved that holiness, purity, and charity were not exclusive to any single religion, and that no religion should claim superiority over others.
Q:22 What did Vivekananda mean by “I pity him from the bottom of my heart”?
Ans: He meant that anyone who dreams of their religion’s exclusive survival or claims superiority over others is narrow-minded and misses the universal truth.
Q:23 How did Vivekananda’s speech promote religious toleration?
Ans: By emphasizing that all religions are valid and that India welcomed refugees and persecuted people, he encouraged respect and harmony among different faiths.
Q:24 Why is Vivekananda’s speech considered one of the greatest speeches by an Indian?
Ans: Because it promoted universal values of tolerance, charity, and brotherhood, and showcased India’s spiritual and moral vision to the world.
Q:25 How does Vivekananda connect morality with religion in his speech?
Ans: He highlights that qualities like holiness, purity, and charity are moral traits that exist in all religions, not confined to any single faith.
Q:26 What impact did Vivekananda hope his speech would have on the audience?
Ans: He hoped to inspire respect for all religions, eliminate fanaticism, and encourage unity, peace, and charity among people worldwide.
Q:27 How did Vivekananda show India as a sheltering nation in his speech?
Ans: He mentioned that India had historically welcomed persecuted and refugee populations from across the globe, reflecting India’s inclusive culture.
Q:28 Why did Vivekananda use the word “fervently” in expressing his hope?
Ans: He wanted to express his deep, passionate, and sincere desire for the eradication of intolerance and fanaticism.
Q:29 What does Vivekananda mean by “uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal”?
Ans: He meant that people often argue or behave intolerantly toward each other, even though all humans are essentially seeking truth and moral goodness.
Q:30 How does Vivekananda’s speech reflect universalism?
Ans: It reflects universalism by promoting equality of all religions, moral unity of humanity, and the idea that spiritual truth transcends boundaries of faith.
Answer by Mrinmoee
