Evening star., 1947-12-03

August IS, 1s47, marked the end of British
rule in India The 100 years Of Indian history
since the Battle of Plassy had been marked by
a continuous struggle on the part OF the Indian
people to liberate themselves from alien rule.
Now in the peace of midnight hour India
received her freedom.
The formal occasion for the transfer Of
power from British to Indian hands was the
meeting at IL o'clock in New Delhi on August
IA of the Constituent Assembly, 1ndia's consti-
tuition making and legislative body. At the
stroke of 12 the new India was born.
For months I had witnessed much of the
prenatal labor from which this land had suf-
fered, the constantly deepening anxiety over
the prospect of division of the country, the
matching of the demands for the division of
India as whole with movement for the
partition of the provinces of Bengal and the
Punjab chronic violence between Hindus and
Moslems, charges and countercharges. 1t was
then my great privilege to be present at the
natal event itself This was an event of pro-
found significance for at that. hour there came
into nationhood, after nearly 200 years of DOM
ination from without, an ancient people,
great people, darker people, nearly 400,OO0,OO0
human beings.
The fine chamber in which the Constituent
Assembly met wore the added brilliance OF the
new Indian flag of saffron, white and green,
hung generously against the side paneling and
over the entrances. The members Of the assem-
bly,, including number of women representa-
tives in elegant saris. made striking picture
with their distinguished bearings and varied
attire The atmosphere was one Of great
dignity almost solemnity, for it an event
not only bringing to an end long and bitter
struggle, but bringing it to a not altogether
happy end an event presaging what all hoped
was good but concerning the consequences of
which one knew nothing. One sensed the
struggle on the part of the members to rejoice
when they were not happy to be grateful for
something which they desired but not in the
form in which it came.
Truth and NOnviolence.
Gratitude found expression in the speech Of
DR.. Rajendra Prasad, president Of the Consti-
tuent Assembly, who asked that humble thanks
be given "the Almighty Power that shapes the
destinies of men and nations; to all those
who had sacrificed for the freedom Of that
hour by the giving of their lives, by living
deaths in prison, of which many of those pres
ent bore the marks and by voluntary exile, and
to Mahatma Gandhi, acknowledged father of
the new India
He expressed sorrow at the division Of the
country which he said was meant by God and
nature to be one He looked hopefully to the
future, however, future in which the new
country would endeavor to end poverty, hunger
and disease and abolish distinctions and ex-
ploitations He looked to a future in which
India proposed to remain faithful to her tradi-
ton of friendship with all peoples in which he
hoped she would not mimic others in their race
for armaments and competition in the discov-
cry OF the most effective weapons of destruc-
ton, but rather would place before the world
for It's acceptance the matchless instrument OF
truth and nonviolence.
Pandit Jarwaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister
of the new Indian government in presenting
the resolution which prescribed an oath for the