Greetings and a call to the nation

The Indian Express Independence Number of 1947 carried special messages from various leaders, both at home and abroad. Sarojini Naidu was characteristically poetic, Maulana Azad typically circumspect, and there were many others

SAROJINI NAIDU: “On the 15th August one long unhappy chapter of India’s life story will finally be closed and sealed. A new volume awaits our inscription of a new chronicle of hope, endeavour and realisation. The title-page is an inspiration, the headlines are at once a challenge and a pledge. What glowing records of immortal dreams and deeds of Freedom shall we inscribe in our Book

of Life to be a beacon and a banner for the world to behold and emulate?”

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT, who for 12 years was the First Lady of the United States and is now a member of United States delegation to the United Nations, in a letter to the Managing Editor of The Indian Express, says:

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“I am happy to have this opportunity to send a word of congratulation to the people of India on their independence.

I hope they will be able to achieve unity and peace among themselves and to help bring about better understanding and peace among the nations of the world.”

PEARL S. BUCK, author of ‘Mother Earth’, and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature: “The independence of India is in my opinion the most important event of the century. I have every confidence that the people of India, in co-operation with their leaders, will confirm their unity and bring to the confused world a new spirit…”

SARDAR VALLABHBHAI PATEL: “I send my best witness and greetings to the leaders of Indian Express on the Independence Day. Today when we are witnessing the fulfilment of our life’s ambition and participating in the victory that has crowned the nation’s struggle for freedom, it is our first duty to pay homage to the memory of those whose sacrifices has contributed so much to this glorious conclusion of that struggle. Let the nation honour their memory in the rejoicing which freedom has brought in its train…”

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MAULANA ABDUL KALAM AZAD: “The first phase of our national struggle has successfully ended. We have achieved freedom. This we could not have done without the fullest cooperation, unity and steadfastness of the entire nation. We would need these qualities still more in our second and more vital stage of national reconstruction. We should endeavour to utilise our newly won freedom in a manner which will make our freedom a real fulfillment of our hopes. Every Indian must, in this hour of need, respond to the call of the country and perform his or her duty loyally in whatever station of life he or she may be.”