Audience

The speech “Tryst with Destiny” was made by Jawaharlal Nehru and addressed  to the Indian Constituent Assembly in the Indian Parliament, but it was also broadcast on the radio.

The direct audience of the speech were the members of the Indian Constituent Assembly, which was formed with the purpose of drafting and adopting the future constitution. Once India became independent, the assembly functioned as a Parliament.

In the speech, Nehru mentions the Assembly either by drawing attention to their responsibilities or by reminding the national audience that they are legal representatives of the Indian people: “It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.” (p. 26, ll. 9-11); “The responsibility rests upon this Assembly, a sovereign body representing the sovereign people of India.” (p. 27, ll. 3-5).

The speaker also targets the Indian people, whom he addresses directly, or whom he refers to indirectly when he uses the personal pronoun ‘we’: “To the people of India, whose representati...