The new Dominion of India was born on the stroke of mid-night on Thursday when the Constituent Assembly, at its historic session, assumed power for the governance of the country and signified its approval of the choice of Lord Louis Mountbatten as the first Governor-General of the Dominion.
Earlier, addressing a hushed House, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President, paid a tribute to the memory of those who had sacrificed themselves for the attainment of independence. “Let us also pay our tribute of love and reverence to Mahatma Gandhi who has been our beacon-light, our guide and philosopher during the last 30 years or more,” Dr. Rajendra Prasad added.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad assured the minorities in India that they would receive fair and just treatment. “They will enjoy all the rights and privileges of citizenship,” he said, “and will be expected, in their turn, to render loyalty to the country in which they live and to its constitution.”
“We are embarking on a great task and we shall do our best to serve it,” Dr. Rajendra Prasad concluded.
Moving a resolution that members of the Assembly do dedicate themselves to the service of India and her people, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, in an inspiring address, declared: “The service of India means the service of the millions that suffer. The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye. That may be beyond us. But so long as there are tears and suffering, so long our work will not be over.”
The resolution was passed unanimously and members took the pledge at the stroke of twelve. After accepting the National Flag presented by Mrs. Hansa Mehta on behalf of the women of India, the Assembly adjourned to meet again on Friday morning.
