Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru: an unforgettable statesman

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minster of independent India, was an Indian statesman. He was anti-colonial nationalist, secular humanist and social democrat. He was an author who remained a central figure in India during the middle third of the 20th century. He was a major leader of the Indian independence movement in the 1930s and 1940s.

India got independence August 15, 1947. Nehru adorned the chair of the first Prime minister and Sardar Patel Deputy Prime Minister of independent India. He served as the country as prime minister for 17 years. He promoted parliamentary democracy, secularism, and science and technology during his regime. If we talk about international affairs, he steered India clear of the two blocks of the cold war.

He was a widely admired author. He wrote some books in prison, such as Letters from a Father to His Daughter (1929), An Autobiography (1936), and The Discovery of India (1946). These books were read around the world and are being read.

Nehru’s Family

Nehru was born on14 November 1889 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. His father was Pandit Motilal Nehru and mother was Swarup Rani Nehru. Motilal Nehru was a prominent lawyer and Indian nationalist.

Jawaharlal was the eldest among the three children of Motilal. His elder sister was Vijaya Lakshmi who, later, became the first female president of the United Nations General Assembly. His youngest sister was Krishna Hutheesing who became a famous writer. She authored several books on her brother, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Nehru married with Kamala Nehru and got a daughter named Indira. Nehru called Indira ‘Priyadarshini’ with affection.

Nehru’s Early Life

Nehru has described his childhood as a “sheltered and uneventful one”. Nehru was born in a rich family. So, he grew up in an atmosphere of privilege. He spent his childhood in a splendid estate called the Anand Bhavan at Allahabad, now Paryagraj.

His father had him educated at home. He hired private governesses and tutors for him. Nehru was influenced by the Irish theosophist Ferdinand T. Brooks’ teaching. He became interested in science and theosophy.

Annie Besant was his family friend. She began him into the Theosophical Society at age thirteen. His interest in theosophy did not prove to be durable. He left the society shortly after Brooks departed as his tutor. He writes in his autobiography: “for nearly three years [Brooks] was with me and in many ways, he influenced me greatly”.

Nehru’s theosophical interests had brought him to the study of the Buddhist and Hindu scriptures. Bal Ram Nanda said, “These scriptures were Nehru’s “first introduction to the religious and cultural heritage of [India]. …[They] provided Nehru the initial impulse for [his] long intellectual quest which culminated…in The Discovery of India.”

Nehru’s education

Jawaharlal Nehru was educated in England—at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge. He got his training in the law at the Inner Temple.

In 1905, he began his institutional schooling at Harrow, a leading school in England. Here, he received G. M. Trevelyan’s Garibaldi books as prizes for academic merit.

He went to Trinity College, Cambridge, in October 1907. There, he completed his graduation with an honours degree in natural science in 1910.

Meanwhile, he went through politics, history, economics and literature. The texts of Bernard Shaw, John Maynard Keynes, Bertrand Russell, H. G. Wells, Lowes Dickinson and Meredith Townsend shaped much of his political and economic thinking.

After his graduation in 1910, Nehru moved to London. There, he studied law at the Inner temple Inn. He sustained to study Fabian Society scholars such as Beatrice Webb. He was called to the Bar in 1912.

Initiation of Nationalism in Nehru

Nehru was an ardent nationalist. Nationalism initiated within him during his youth. The Second Boer War and the Russo-Japanese War intensified his feelings of nationalism. After the Russo-Japanese War, he writes, “[The] Japanese victories [had] stirred up my enthusiasm. …Nationalistic ideas filled my mind. … I mused of Indian freedom and Asiatic freedom from the thraldom of Europe.”

M. Trevelyan’s Garibaldi books, which he had received as prizes for academic merit, influenced him significantly. He viewed Garibaldi as a revolutionary protagonist. He writes, “Visions of similar deeds in India came before, of [my] gallant fight for [Indian] freedom and in my mind, India and Italy got strangely mixed together.”

Nehru’s Entry in Politics:

After returning to India, he enrolled himself at the Allahabad High Court. Gradually began to take an interest in national politics. Eventually politics became a full-time occupation for him. He was a rising figure in Indian politics during the disturbances of the 1910s.

He became the leader of the left-wing section of the Indian National Congress during the 1920s.  Finally, he became the leader of the entire Congress with the support of Mahatma Gandhi.

Mahatma Gandhi designated Nehru as his political heir. In 1929, in Lahore Session of Congress at the bank of the Ravi River, Nehru called for complete independence from the British Rule.

Advocacy of Nehru

Nehru returned to India in August 1912. He was enrolled as an advocate of the Allahabad High Court. There, he tried to settle down as a barrister. He had very little interest in his profession of advocacy.  He enjoyed neither the practice of law nor the company of lawyers. He quotes about it, “Decidedly the atmosphere was not intellectually stimulating and a sense of the utter insipidity of life grew upon me.”

Nehru’s Interest in Politics

When Nehru was in Britain as a student and a barrister, an interest in Indian Politics developed within him.

He returned to India in 1912. He attended an annual session of the Indian National Congress in Patna. At that time, Congress was the party of moderates and elites. He worked for the party in support of the Indian civil rights movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa. He collected funds for the movement in 1913. Later, he also campaigned against depressed labour and other such discrimination facing Indians in the British colonies.

Non-cooperation: 1920–1927

Nehru’s first big national involvement started at the commencement of the non-cooperation movement in 1920. He controlled the movement in the United Provinces, now Uttar Pradesh.

He was arrested on charges of anti-governmental activities in 1921. A few months later, he was released.  Gandhi’s suddenly halted the non-Cooperation movement after the Chauri Chaura incident. His father Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das formed a new party named Swaraj Party. Nehru remained loyal to Gandhiji. He did not join the Swaraj Party. In 1923, he went to see the struggle that was being waged by the Sikhs against the corrupt Mahants. He was arrested and imprisoned in Nabha, a princely state.

Internationalizing the struggle for Indian independence: 1927

Nehru played a key role in the developing of the internationalist viewpoint of the Indian independence struggle. He wanted foreign associates for India for independence and democracy.

As a result of his efforts, the Congress was invited to attend the congress of oppressed nationalities in Brussels, Belgium in 1927. That meeting was called to coordinate and plan a common struggle against imperialism. An Executive Council of the League against Imperialism was founded during the meeting. Nehru represented India in the meeting. He was elected to the Executive council.

Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy: 1929

In 1929, Pandit Nehru drafted the policies of the Congress and a future Indian Nation. He declared the aims of the congress. These aims were as follows:

In 1929, Pandit Nehru drafted the policies of the Congress and a future Indian Nation. He declared the aims of the congress. These aims were as follows:

1.       freedom of religion

2.       right to form associations

3.       freedom of expression of thought

4.       equality before law for every individual without distinction of caste, colour, creed, or religion

5.       protection of regional languages and cultures,

6.       safeguarding the interests of the peasants and labour

7.       abolition of untouchability

8.       introduction of adult franchise

9.       imposition of prohibition,

10.   nationalisation of industries

11.   socialism

12.   the establishment of a secular India.

All of these aims formed the core of the “Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy” resolution drafted by Nehru in 1929–1931. All of these aims were ratified in 1931 by the Congress party session at Karachi chaired by Vallabhbhai Patel

Nehru: The Interim Prime Minister of British India

The Congress dominated Indian politics during the 1930s. Nehru dominated the Congress. Nehru and the Congress won the 1937 provincial elections and formed the governments in several provinces. Nehru became the interim prime minister of British India.

In 1942, Gandhiji called for ‘Quit India Movement’. The British government imprisoned the senior Congress leaders. When Nehru came out of a lengthy prison term, The Muslim League under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, had come to dominate Muslim politics in India.

Nehru: The First Prime Minister of Independent India

India became an independent country on August 15, 1947. He was sworn in as the prime minister of India. He raised the Indian National flag at the Red Fort in Delhi. Nehru delivered a memorable speech, A Tryst with Destiny. This speech has been broadly admired.

Under Nehru’s leadership, the Congress emerged as a catch-all party. It dominated national and state-level politics. It won elections in 1951, 1957 and 1962. Nehru remained a popular leader among the Indian people.

Death of Nehru

On May 27, 1964, unfortunately, he died due to a stroke. Nehru’s resting place after death is Shanti-van.

Celebration of Nehru’s Birthday

Children of India loved Nehru and called him ‘Chacha Nehru’, uncle Nehru. So, his birth anniversary, to pay tribute him, is dedicated to the children and celebrated, as Children’s Day in India.

Note:- The data has been taken from Wikipedia.