On this Independence Day, we bring you this article was was published in the August 15, 1947 edition of The Hindu.

Amidst unprecedented scenes of splendour and colour in this festive capital city of the new Dominion, the Viceroy, Lord Louis Mountbatten, addressed in the morning the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan—a Dominion, fifth largest in the world with seventy million inhabitants— on the eve of its attaining complete freedom. With numerous jeweled war decorations and orders glittering under the flashlights. Lord Louis Mountbatten who was in his Admiral's uniform, delivered his historic speech lasting fifteen minutes in a dignified and measured tone to a full House with galleries packed with high personages, diplomats, world Pressmen and prominent citizens. Qaid-e-Azam Mohamed Ali Jinnah, president of the Constituent Assembly led the Viceroy on his arrival to the throne placed along with his Presidential chair. His Excellency Sir Claude Auchmleck, Commander-in-Chief of India, the Hon. Pamela Mountbatten and Begum Liaqat Ali Khan occupied the front row while Lady Mountbatten and Miss Fatima Jinnah sat together in the next row near the Visceral Throne

VICEROY'S ADDRESS

The following is the text of the address delivered by His Excellency Lord Mountbatten to the Pakistan Constituent Assembly to-day: Mr. President and members of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan- I have a message from His Majesty we King to deliver to you today. This is His Majesty's message: "I send you my greetings and warmest wishes on this great occasion when the new Dominion of Pakistan is about to take its place in the British Commonwealth of Nations. In thus achieving your independence by agreement you nave set an example to all freedom loving people throughout the world. 'I know that I can speak for all sections of opinion within -the British Commonwealth when I say that their support will not fail you in upholding democratic principles. I am confident that the statesmanship and the spirit of cooperation which have led to the historic developments you are now celebrating will be the best guarantee of your future happiness end prosperity. Great responsibilities lie ahead of your leaders. May the blessings of the Almighty sustain you in all your future tasks. Be assured always of my sympathy and support as I watch your continuing efforts to advance the cause of humanity." I am speaking to you to-day as your Viceroy. To-morrow the Government of the new Dominion of Pakistan will rest in your hands and I shall be the constitutional head of your neighbour, the Dominion of India. The leaders of both Governments, however, have invited me to be the independent Chairman of the Joint Defence Council. This is an honour which I shall strive to merit.

AN EVENT IN HISTORY

Tomorrow two new sovereign States will take their place in the Commonwealth: not young nations, but the heirs to old and proud civilisations: fully independent States, whose leaders and statesmen, already known and respected throughout the world whose poet and philosophers, scientists, and warriors, have made their imperishable, contribution to the service of mankind: not immature governments or weak, but fit to carry their great share of responsibility for the peace and progress of the world. The birth of Pakistan is an event in history. We, who are part of history, and are helping to make it, are not well-placed, even if we wished, to moralise on the event, to look back and survey the sequence of the past that led to it. History seems sometimes to move with the infinite slowness of a glacier, and sometimes to rush forward in a torrent. Just now, in this part of the world our united efforts have melted the ice and moved some impediments in the stream, and we are carried onwards in the full flood. There is no time to look back. There is time only to look forward. I wish to pay tribute to the great men, your leaders, who helped to arrive at a peaceful solution for the transfer of power.

TRIBUTE TO MR. JINNAH

Here I would like to express my tribute to Mr. Jinnah. Our close personal contact, and the mutual trust and understanding that have grown out of it, are, I feel, the best of omens for future good relations. He has my sincere good wishes as your new Governor-General. Moral courage is the truest attribute of greatness and the men who have allowed the paramount need for agreement and a peaceful solution to take precedence over the hopes and claims they so strongly held and keenly felt have shown moral courage in a high degree. I wish to acknowledge, too, the help of others: of the men- who advised and assisted the process of negotiation: of the men who kept the machinery of administration running , under great difficulties, of the men who have worked day and night to solve the innumerable problems of partition. All this has been achieved with toil and sweat. I wish 1 could say also without tears and blood. But terrible crimes have been committed. It is justifiable to reflect, however, that far more terrible things might have happened if the majority had not proved worthy of the high endeavour of their leaders, or had not listened to that great appeal which Mr. Jinnah and Mahatma, Gandhi together made, and which the respective future Governments reiterated in a statement made by the Partition Council. May I remind you of the terms of that statement? The two Governments declared that "it is their intention to safeguard the legitimate interests of all citizens, irrespective of religion, caste or sex in the exercise of their normal civic rights all citizens will be regarded as equal and both Governments will assure to all people within their territories the exercise of liberties such as freedom of speech, the right to form associations, the right to worship in their own way and the protection of their language and culture. Both Governments further undertake that there shall be no discrimination against those who before August 15 have been political opponents.

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Leaf through the pages and experience history in the making as our readers experienced it that day.

On the occassion of the 69th Independence Day, The Hindu presents to you the historic day of India's liberation from imperial rule through our edition dated August 15, 1947. You can leaf through the pages and experience history in the making as our readers experienced it that day. We have extracted select articles by the likes of V.K. Krishna Menon, T.T. Krishnamachari and C.V. Raman for you to read into the thoughts of the great minds of that era. You can click on the red marker on highlighted articles and proceed to the full story.

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