Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has brought to light a lesser-known moment in Indian history, highlighting a largely forgotten speech delivered by Jawaharlal Nehru in Hindustani on the night of August 14, 1947—just before his iconic “Tryst with Destiny” address. According to Ramesh, Nehru began his speech in Hindustani, speaking for about six minutes before transitioning to his famous English speech.

This Hindustani speech, Ramesh noted, was lyrical and captured the essence of “Tryst with Destiny.” Both the text and audio recording of the Hindustani speech are available, offering a glimpse into India’s history. The Constituent Assembly met at 11 pm on August 14, 1947, and Nehru’s “Tryst with Destiny” speech was delivered just before midnight. While the iconic speech has become synonymous with India’s independence, the preceding Hindustani speech has largely gone unnoticed. Ramesh’s discovery highlights Nehru’s linguistic versatility and his ability to connect with the masses through his mother tongue. This revelation has sparked interest in exploring more of India’s hidden historical treasures.