Zohran Mamdani, an elected official in New York, recently referenced Jawaharlal Nehru's "Tryst with Destiny" speech from 1947 during his victory address. Mamdani, who has Indian heritage, acknowledged his South Asian background throughout his campaign, which included using Bollywood references. Nehru's original speech marked India's independence from British rule and focused on the nation's future responsibilities.
Mamdani's Victory Address
During his victory speech in New York, Zohran Mamdani quoted India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Mamdani stated, "A moment comes but rarely in history when we step out from the old to the new," and continued, "When an age ends and the soul of a nation finds utterance. Tonight we step out from the old to the new." Following his speech, the title track from the 2004 Bollywood film Dhoom was played, succeeded by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' Empire State of Mind. Mamdani had previously incorporated Bollywood themes into his campaign, utilizing Hindi messages and dialogues from popular films on platforms like Instagram. His mother is filmmaker Mira Nair, and his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a Ugandan-born scholar of Indian descent. His election marked a notable achievement for an individual of Indian origin in New York politics.
Echoes of Nehru's "Tryst with Destiny"
Nehru's "Tryst with Destiny" speech was delivered on August 15, 1947, in a Constituent Assembly hall in Delhi, just before India gained independence after nearly two centuries of British rule. The speech commenced with the lines: "Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially." Nehru continued, "At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom."
Context of Nehru's Speech
In his 1947 address, Nehru characterized freedom not as a conclusion but as a beginning, emphasizing "not one of ease or resting but of incessant striving." He asserted that serving India meant addressing the challenges faced by "the millions who suffer" and working to eliminate "poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity." Nehru committed that India's efforts would persist "so long as there are tears and suffering" and called for unity to construct "the noble mansion of free India where all her children may dwell," advising against "petty and destructive criticism."
Historical Reception of Nehru's Address
The approximately 1,600-word speech by India's first prime minister is widely recognized for its historical significance. The New York Times reported that Nehru had "electrified his countrymen with a speech of soaring eloquence." Historian Ramachandra Guha described it as a speech "rich in emotion and rhetoric." Historian Srinath Raghavan noted that the "speech still resonates in India because it genuinely captured the moment in the way great speeches can."