JAWAHARLAL NEHRU
Introduction
1. Jawahar Lal Nehru dominated Indian political scene for about four decades and moulded the course of Indian history according to his ideology. For about two decades he was the first Prime Minister of India and this period is known as Nehru era. He was in the forefront of national freedom struggle, next only to Mahatma Gandhi. After independence he laid the foundations of a future India. He gave the country the policy of non-alignment. He extended his whole-hearted co-operation to the United Nation Organisation (UNO) and its specialised agencies. He was also responsible for giving a Constitution to free India.
His Early Life
2. Jawahar Lal Nehru was born on 14th November 1889 in very comfortable surroundings. His father Moti Lal Nehru arranged a private tutor to coach him at home. Jawahar Lal Nehru continued his studies at home up to the age of 15. In 1905 his father decided to send young Jawahar Lal Nehru to England for higher studies. After completing his degree he visited Ireland where he expressed his emotional sympathies with the Irish struggle against British imperialism. In 1912 he came back to India and joined the Bar. He, however, found that the atmosphere at the Bar was not intellectually stimulating and also his legal practice was not doing well. For eight years Jawahar Lal Nehru remained a member of the Bar and carried on with his profession in a desultory fashion.
Entry into Politics
3. In 1912 Nehru attended Bankipur session of the Congress. Next year he joined the United Provinces Congress Organisation but remained quite inactive for some time. In 1915 he made his first public speech which surprised many prominent leaders of Indian political life but his interest in Indian politics grew only after 1917.
4. It was during this period that he came in contact with Gandhiji who greatly influenced his ideas and course of life and he decided to join his Satyagraha movement. It was in 1920 that Jawahar Lal Nehru for the first time came in contact with the peasants and workers and came to know of their poverty. It was also for the first time that he got first-hand information about the living standard of the millions of Indian workers and peasants. The occasion was provided due to his forcible eviction from Mussoorie under orders of the District Magistrate, Dehradun, who wanted Jawahar Lal to give an undertaking that he would not contact the Afghan delegation then staying with him in the same hotel. This opportunity of visiting the villages greatly helped him in his future life.
Nehru’s Imprisonment
5. In 1921 when Gandhiji started his non-cooperation movement, Nehru could not resist the temptation of remaining outside the movement. By then Moti Lal Nehru and other prominent Congress leaders had also been arrested but all of a sudden due to Chauri Chaura incident Gandhiji withdrew his non-cooperation movement. During this period Jawahar Lal Nehru was also arrested for distributing handbills but was subsequently released from jail as it was found that the arrest was illegal. However his stay out of jail was not for long and on 11 May 1922 he was re-arrested on account of organising and enforcing a Congress decision of boycotting foreign clothes and remained in jail till 31st January 1923.
As Chairman of Allahabad Muncipal Board
6. In 1923 Jawahar Lal Nehru was elected chairman of Allahabad Municipality. This was a singular honour bestowed on him because at that time only prominent Congressman were elected to such post.
His Visits to Europe
7. In March 1926, Jawahar Lal Nehru with his wife and daughter sailed from Bombay for Switzerland for the treatment of his ailing wife. During his stay he found an opportunity of visiting other parts of the world.
8. Towards the end of 1926 he visited Berlin where he came to know that ‘Congress of the Oppressed Nationalities’ was being held at Brussels in February 1927. The Indian National Congress appointed Jawahar Lal as the representative of India. It was here that he came in contact with the orthodox Communists and got the idea that national independence and social reforms must go hand in hand. During this conference he also got the idea of setting up combined Afro-Asian group. It has rightly been said that this Congress proved a great milestone in the development of Nehru`s political thought. He also got an opportunity to visit Moscow in 1927 to attend the 10th anniversary celebration of Bolshevik Revolution. This visit to Moscow was very noteworthy because it influenced Nehru`s political ideology and brought him close to Communism. By the end of December 1927 Jawahar Lal came back to India and attended the annual Congress Session of Madras.
Nehru’s Role in Independence Resolution
9. During the Madras session of the Congress he took a very active part and moved a resolution on independence. This resolution virtually plunged him into Congress politics and with great hardship could convince the Congress to pass the resolution. In 1928 be presided over the annual session of the Trade Union Congress. It was at this stage that Nehru gave his mind about the future of India. He said, “I must frankly confess that I am a socialist and a republican and am no believer in kings of industries who have greater power over the lives and fortunes of men than even the kings of old, and whose methods are predatory as those of the feudal aristocracy”.
Independence Resolution and After
10. After Nehru got the independence resolution passed in 1929 he became a very prominent leader of national movement. He became an accepted national leader and had a mass appeal as well. Gradually in the national and international affairs his views began to be listened to with care and attention.
Second World War and Nehru
11. During the Second World War Nehru asked the British Government to give in clear words the aims and objects of its participation in war. Getting no satisfactory reply from the British Government, Congress under the inspiring guidance of Gandhiji and Nehru, decided to follow the course of ‘Individual Disobedience’. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment.
Nehru as Prime Minister of India
12. After independence Nehru become the first Prime Minister of India and continued to hold that post and position for the rest of his life time and died as Prime Minister of India on 26th May 1964. As Prime Minister he was a force behind giving a Constitution to free India and made India a sovereign democratic republic. He envisaged the setting up of a Planning Commission for development of Indian economy. In the international field he pursued the policy of non-alignment so that India could become a bridge between East and West. He gave the idea of Afro-Asian solidarity and unity. He was also responsible for extending India’s fullest co-operation to UNO and other specialised UN agencies. Due to his efforts the famous Panch Sheel programme became the creed of many nations of the world in determining their international relations.
His Works
13. Jawahar Lal Nehru was a very great writer and an orator. It was through his speeches that he came in contact with the public.His speeches have now been compiled by the Publications Division of the Government of India. He, however, could find time for writing in the prison. Some of his significant works are ‘Glimpses of World History’ and ‘Discovery of India’. In addition, some of his letters have now been compiled and made available to us in book form. These are “Letters from a Father to His Daughter” and ‘A Bunch of Old Letters’. These give his views about national and international affairs.
Conclusion
His whole life was full of struggle and he sacrificed everything for the sake of India. We may conclude by saying that Nehru opened a new era in India’s political, social and economic lives. He was a guiding light and inspiring personality and all leaders of India’s political life and many citizens of India looked to him for guidance and inspiration.
1. Jawahar Lal Nehru dominated Indian political scene for about four decades and moulded the course of Indian history according to his ideology. For about two decades he was the first Prime Minister of India and this period is known as Nehru era. He was in the forefront of national freedom struggle, next only to Mahatma Gandhi. After independence he laid the foundations of a future India. He gave the country the policy of non-alignment. He extended his whole-hearted co-operation to the United Nation Organisation (UNO) and its specialised agencies. He was also responsible for giving a Constitution to free India.
His Early Life
2. Jawahar Lal Nehru was born on 14th November 1889 in very comfortable surroundings. His father Moti Lal Nehru arranged a private tutor to coach him at home. Jawahar Lal Nehru continued his studies at home up to the age of 15. In 1905 his father decided to send young Jawahar Lal Nehru to England for higher studies. After completing his degree he visited Ireland where he expressed his emotional sympathies with the Irish struggle against British imperialism. In 1912 he came back to India and joined the Bar. He, however, found that the atmosphere at the Bar was not intellectually stimulating and also his legal practice was not doing well. For eight years Jawahar Lal Nehru remained a member of the Bar and carried on with his profession in a desultory fashion.
Entry into Politics
3. In 1912 Nehru attended Bankipur session of the Congress. Next year he joined the United Provinces Congress Organisation but remained quite inactive for some time. In 1915 he made his first public speech which surprised many prominent leaders of Indian political life but his interest in Indian politics grew only after 1917.
4. It was during this period that he came in contact with Gandhiji who greatly influenced his ideas and course of life and he decided to join his Satyagraha movement. It was in 1920 that Jawahar Lal Nehru for the first time came in contact with the peasants and workers and came to know of their poverty. It was also for the first time that he got first-hand information about the living standard of the millions of Indian workers and peasants. The occasion was provided due to his forcible eviction from Mussoorie under orders of the District Magistrate, Dehradun, who wanted Jawahar Lal to give an undertaking that he would not contact the Afghan delegation then staying with him in the same hotel. This opportunity of visiting the villages greatly helped him in his future life.
Nehru’s Imprisonment
5. In 1921 when Gandhiji started his non-cooperation movement, Nehru could not resist the temptation of remaining outside the movement. By then Moti Lal Nehru and other prominent Congress leaders had also been arrested but all of a sudden due to Chauri Chaura incident Gandhiji withdrew his non-cooperation movement. During this period Jawahar Lal Nehru was also arrested for distributing handbills but was subsequently released from jail as it was found that the arrest was illegal. However his stay out of jail was not for long and on 11 May 1922 he was re-arrested on account of organising and enforcing a Congress decision of boycotting foreign clothes and remained in jail till 31st January 1923.
As Chairman of Allahabad Muncipal Board
6. In 1923 Jawahar Lal Nehru was elected chairman of Allahabad Municipality. This was a singular honour bestowed on him because at that time only prominent Congressman were elected to such post.
His Visits to Europe
7. In March 1926, Jawahar Lal Nehru with his wife and daughter sailed from Bombay for Switzerland for the treatment of his ailing wife. During his stay he found an opportunity of visiting other parts of the world.
8. Towards the end of 1926 he visited Berlin where he came to know that ‘Congress of the Oppressed Nationalities’ was being held at Brussels in February 1927. The Indian National Congress appointed Jawahar Lal as the representative of India. It was here that he came in contact with the orthodox Communists and got the idea that national independence and social reforms must go hand in hand. During this conference he also got the idea of setting up combined Afro-Asian group. It has rightly been said that this Congress proved a great milestone in the development of Nehru`s political thought. He also got an opportunity to visit Moscow in 1927 to attend the 10th anniversary celebration of Bolshevik Revolution. This visit to Moscow was very noteworthy because it influenced Nehru`s political ideology and brought him close to Communism. By the end of December 1927 Jawahar Lal came back to India and attended the annual Congress Session of Madras.
Nehru’s Role in Independence Resolution
9. During the Madras session of the Congress he took a very active part and moved a resolution on independence. This resolution virtually plunged him into Congress politics and with great hardship could convince the Congress to pass the resolution. In 1928 be presided over the annual session of the Trade Union Congress. It was at this stage that Nehru gave his mind about the future of India. He said, “I must frankly confess that I am a socialist and a republican and am no believer in kings of industries who have greater power over the lives and fortunes of men than even the kings of old, and whose methods are predatory as those of the feudal aristocracy”.
Independence Resolution and After
10. After Nehru got the independence resolution passed in 1929 he became a very prominent leader of national movement. He became an accepted national leader and had a mass appeal as well. Gradually in the national and international affairs his views began to be listened to with care and attention.
Second World War and Nehru
11. During the Second World War Nehru asked the British Government to give in clear words the aims and objects of its participation in war. Getting no satisfactory reply from the British Government, Congress under the inspiring guidance of Gandhiji and Nehru, decided to follow the course of ‘Individual Disobedience’. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment.
Nehru as Prime Minister of India
12. After independence Nehru become the first Prime Minister of India and continued to hold that post and position for the rest of his life time and died as Prime Minister of India on 26th May 1964. As Prime Minister he was a force behind giving a Constitution to free India and made India a sovereign democratic republic. He envisaged the setting up of a Planning Commission for development of Indian economy. In the international field he pursued the policy of non-alignment so that India could become a bridge between East and West. He gave the idea of Afro-Asian solidarity and unity. He was also responsible for extending India’s fullest co-operation to UNO and other specialised UN agencies. Due to his efforts the famous Panch Sheel programme became the creed of many nations of the world in determining their international relations.
His Works
13. Jawahar Lal Nehru was a very great writer and an orator. It was through his speeches that he came in contact with the public.His speeches have now been compiled by the Publications Division of the Government of India. He, however, could find time for writing in the prison. Some of his significant works are ‘Glimpses of World History’ and ‘Discovery of India’. In addition, some of his letters have now been compiled and made available to us in book form. These are “Letters from a Father to His Daughter” and ‘A Bunch of Old Letters’. These give his views about national and international affairs.
Conclusion
His whole life was full of struggle and he sacrificed everything for the sake of India. We may conclude by saying that Nehru opened a new era in India’s political, social and economic lives. He was a guiding light and inspiring personality and all leaders of India’s political life and many citizens of India looked to him for guidance and inspiration.