100 Significant Pre-Independence Speeches 1858 - 1947

by H.D. Sharma

The nine decades between 1858 and 1947 were an important time for India. The country was awakening to new realities, trying to shape her own destiny and was inching her way to freedom. In the process was produced a galaxy of statesmen, social reformers and freedom fighters who were not just exceptional people, but brilliant orators as well. Starting with Queen Victoria’s ‘Proclamation’ and ending with Jawaharlal Nehru’s famous ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech, this book brings together some of the stirring, inspiring speeches that were delivered at the time.

Included in this compilation are speeches by people who had a hand in India’s freedom struggle: Tilak, Gokhale, Gandhi, Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Patel, Ambedkar, Jinnah. Apolitical speeches include those made by Vivekananda, Sister Nivedita and Singravelu. During these exciting nine decades, the British played an important role in shaping Indian history; included therefore, are speeches made by Minto, Morley, Irwin, Linlithgow, Amery and Mountbatten, the last viceroy.

Two speechesmay surprise Indian readers: that of Col. Wedgewood describing graphically to the British Parliament the tragedy of Jallianwala Bagh; and the Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin tracing the racial affinity between Anglo-Saxons and Indians.