Background of the 11th August historic speech of Jinnah

 

Background of the 11th August historic speech of Jinnah 

At 11th August1947, it was 2nd day of the 1st parliamentary session, held before the formal birth of Pakistan. Mr Joginder Nath Mandal from East Bengal presided the assembly at first day (10th August, 1947). 54 members presented their credentials and at 2nd day 4 more members presented their credentials and it was a house of 58 members including 15 non Muslims and one women i-e Begum Jhan Ara Shahnawaz. Majority of members were from East Bengal. The House at 11th August elected its President and all members unanimously voted for Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. As par Assembly record, 6 people 6 members congratulated the President including the women member & M Ayub Khurro. Here you will read speech of Kiran Shankar Roy. That speech created the space for Jinnah to deliver 11th August historic and much stated speech. Although Jinnah touched vital issues of governance, partition and citizenship in it but we often ignore first two. Jinnah discussed law & order, bribery, nepotism, black marketing, corruption yet he mentioned these as legacy inherited from British India, he also said the history will decided about partition decision but in the 3rd part of the speech he supported equal citizen rights. Now you read Kiran Shankar Roy speech

Mr. Kiran Sankar Roy (East Bengal: General):

 Mr. President, on behalf of the Congress Party in this Assembly, I offer our most sincere congratulations to you, Sir, on your election as the President of the Pakistan Constituent Assembly.

Mr. President, in your most amazing career, one of the most brilliant that any Indian had, if I may say so without seeming to be patronising, you have received, Sir, .

An Honourable Member: We cannot catch your voice.

Mr. Kiran Sankar Roy: I shall try to raise my voice you have received many tokens of affection. You have had triumphs in many spheres of life, and when we compare all your achievements with the honour that this House is conferring on you, it may seem to be not very important. But Sir, I for one, congratulate you for having agreed to accept the Presidentship of this House. It is a wise decision. You, who have been the dreamer of Pakistan, now that your dream has been realised, should, as my friend the Honourable Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan said, be the architect of its constitution. You should now have the opportunity and the privilege of giving shape to your dream. As far as we are concerned, Sir, if the Pakistan which 'you have in your mind means a secular democratic State, a State which will make no difference between a citizen and a citizen, which will deal fairly with all irrespective of caste, creed or community, I assure you that you shall have our utmost co-operation.

If you will permit me, I would also like to state very briefly the policy which we Congressmen in this House would like to follow. Frankly, Sir, we are not very happy. We are unhappy because of this division of India. We are unhappy because/of the partition qf Punjab. We are also unhappy because of the partition of Bengal. But as this arrangement has been agreed upon by "the two great parties, we accept' it loyally, and shall work for it loyally. (Cheers.) We shall accept the citizenship of Pakistan with all its implications. (Cheers.) We would like to share all the difficulties and the risks, and surely there will be difficulties and risks at the birth of a new State. I say' we shall share all the difficulties and the risks as we hope to share the prosperity and happiness which we will jointly create in this new State. And in return, Sir, we shall expect the rights and privileges of the minority guaranteed in the constitution, guaranteed not only in the Constitution but actually respected in the day to day working of  the Government. When I say that, Sir, I realise that mere guarantee in the constitution is not enough. The other evening you rightly observed that what was wanted was mutual trust, mutual faith and mutual co- operation. I may once again assure you that there will be no want of trust and co-operation on our side (Cheers.)Sir, you have been a great leader of the Muslims. Time' has now come for you to take up the leadership of the State which includes not only Muslims, but Hindus and other communities. We invite you to that leadership and we will not fail to support you. When history writes its final judgment on your career, I hope, Sir, it will put it on record that you were not only a great leader of a great community, but you were also a great leader of an entire people of a State which you have brought into being. (Cheers.)

Sir, I once more offer you my sincerest congratulations.

CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY OF PAKISTAN 11^th August 1947

Mr. Kiran Sankar Roy.