A historian reading Jawaharlal Nehru's speech in the Constituent Assembly wants to know how far, in Nehru's view, the Assembly could go in its work. Which answer does the speech give?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → As far as the people as a whole wished it to go
Option (1) As far as the Congress, the largest party, wished it to go — Incorrect. The Congress was the largest group in the Assembly. But Nehru said the Assembly would follow the people, not any party or group.
Option (2) As far as the provincial legislatures that elected it wished it to go — Incorrect. The provincial legislatures chose the members, but Nehru did not tie the Assembly's limits to them. He looked beyond them to the people as a whole.
Option (3) As far as the people as a whole wished it to go — Correct. Nehru said governments are the expression of the will of the people. The Assembly met because of the strength of the people, so it would go as far as the people as a whole wished.
Option (4) As far as the conditions laid down by the British allowed it to go — Incorrect. Nehru admitted that the British had attached conditions to the Assembly's work. Still, he held that its strength came from the people, so these conditions did not set its limits.
NCERT (2026-27): “2.1 The will of the people … “Governments do not come into being by State Papers. Governments are, in fact the expression of the will of the people. We have met here today because of the strength of the people behind us and we shall go as far as the people – not of any party or group but the people as a whole – shall wish us to go. We should, therefore, always keep in mind the passions that lie in the hearts of the masses of the Indian people and try to fulfil them.” |