From Nehru's 'Tryst with destiny' to Vajpayee's roar: Iconic speeches at old Parliament

The events unfolding at the historic old Parliament building on Monday signify the final gathering of parliamentarians within India's inaugural legislative house post-independence. From tomorrow onwards, the sitting of MPs at both the Lower and Upper House will transpire in the new House, constructed as part of India's Central Vista Redevelopment Project, in New Delhi. 

In the address to the Parliament Special Session in Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi evoked the enduring legacy of speeches by former leaders that will resonate within the house for generations. He referred to former PM Jawaharlal Nehru's renowned speech- 'A tryst with destiny' and mentioned Atal Bihari Vajpayee's noted speech-  'Sarkaarein Aayengi Jaaengi.'

"The echoes of Pandit Nehru's 'At the stroke of the midnight..." in this House will keep inspiring us. In this House itself, Atal ji had said, 'Sarkarein aayegi-jaayegi, partiyan banegi-bigdegi, lekin ye desh rehna chahiye. (Governments will come and go, parties will form and fall, but this country should stand firm). This echoes even to this day," the Prime Minister said. 

A tryst with destiny: Nehru captures essence of freedom 

"A Tryst with Destiny" is the iconic address delivered by Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, to the Indian Constituent Assembly at the Parliament House on the eve of India's Independence, as the clock neared midnight on August 14, 1947.

Extending beyond the bounds of Indian history, this speech is widely regarded as one of the most profound orations of the 20th century by countless individuals across the nation. Within its words lies the essence of the triumphant climax of the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule. Nehru's address marked the conclusion of the colonial era, urging citizens to acknowledge the promise and potential inherent in that pivotal 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."

Former PM Jawaharlal Nehru addressing the Parliament on the eve of Indian Independence | Image: X

The speech continued to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi and recall his efforts in the Indian Independence Movement. Nehru called upon the countrymen to work together to bring freedom to the common man, to the peasants and workers of India.

Sarkaarein Aayengi Jaaengi: Vajpayee's roar in Lok Sabha

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a poet-politician whose words had fire and magic, was a veteran BJP leader and three-time Prime Minister. His eloquent oratory, coupled with nuanced rhetoric, garnered accolades not only from his fellow parliamentarians in the opposition but also from the public during his speeches. 

In most of the speeches, Vajpayee expressed his love for the country and faith towards democracy. Resonating with many, his speeches are a testament to his dedication to building a stronger nation. In his fiery and hard-hitting 1996 speech in the Parliament, Vajpayee schooled the Parliamentarians. 

He said, "Satta ka to khel chalega, sarkaren ayyengi, jayengi; partiyan banegi, bigedgi; magar ye desh rahna chahiye, is desh ka loktantra amar rahna chahiye ('governments will come and go. But this country should remain, this country's democracy should remain eternally)".

Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee addressing Lok Sabha | Image: X

New house to hold session from September 19

The regular parliamentary proceedings, which commenced in the historic old building on Monday, are set to transition to the new parliamentary complex on Tuesday, September 19, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, as confirmed by an official statement from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the new Parliament Complex on May 28 with grand festivities and the esteemed presence of international dignitaries. On Sunday, September 17, Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar raised the National flag at the new Parliament building, marking a significant moment.