biography of pt nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru

(1889-1964)

Who Was Jawaharlal Nehru?

Nehru was born in Allahabad, India in 1889. His father was a renowned lawyer and one of Mahatma Gandhi's notable lieutenants. A series of English governesses and tutors educated Nehru at home until he was 16. He continued his education in England, first at the Harrow School and then at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he earned an honors degree in natural science. He later studied law at the Inner Temple in London before returning home to India in 1912 and practicing law for several years. Four years later, Nehru married Kamala Kaul; their only child, Indira Priyadarshini, was born in 1917. Like her father, Indira would later serve as prime minister of India under her married name: Indira Gandhi . A family of high achievers, one of Nehru's sisters, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, later became the first woman president of the UN General Assembly.

Entering Politics

In 1919, while traveling on a train, Nehru overheard British Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer gloating over the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The massacre, also known as the Massacre of Amritsar, was an incident in which 379 people were killed and at least 1,200 wounded when the British military stationed there continuously fired for ten minutes on a crowd of unarmed Indians. Upon hearing Dyer’s words, Nehru vowed to fight the British. The incident changed the course of his life.

This period in Indian history was marked by a wave of nationalist activity and governmental repression. Nehru joined the Indian National Congress, one of India's two major political parties. Nehru was deeply influenced by the party's leader, Gandhi. It was Gandhi's insistence on action to bring about change and greater autonomy from the British that sparked Nehru's interest the most.

The British didn't give in easily to Indian demands for freedom, and in late 1921, the Congress Party's central leaders and workers were banned from operating in some provinces. Nehru went to prison for the first time as the ban took effect; over the next 24 years, he was to serve a total of nine sentences, adding up to more than nine years in jail. Always leaning to the left politically, Nehru studied Marxism while imprisoned. Though he found himself interested in the philosophy but repelled by some of its methods, from then on the backdrop of Nehru's economic thinking was Marxist, adjusted as necessary to Indian conditions.

Marching Toward Indian Independence

In 1928, after years of struggle on behalf of Indian emancipation, Nehru was named president of the Indian National Congress. (In fact, hoping that Nehru would attract India's youth to the party, Gandhi had engineered Nehru's rise.) The next year, Nehru led the historic session at Lahore that proclaimed complete independence as India's political goal. November 1930 saw the start of the Round Table Conferences, which convened in London and hosted British and Indian officials working toward a plan of eventual independence.

After his father's death in 1931, Nehru became more embedded in the workings of the Congress Party and became closer to Gandhi, attending the signing of the Gandhi-Irwin pact. Signed in March 1931 by Gandhi and the British viceroy Lord Irwin, the pact declared a truce between the British and India's independence movement. The British agreed to free all political prisoners and Gandhi agreed to end the civil disobedience movement he had been coordinating for years.

Unfortunately, the pact did not instantly usher in a peaceful climate in British-controlled India, and both Nehru and Gandhi were jailed in early 1932 on charges of attempting to mount another civil disobedience movement. Neither man attended the third Round Table Conference. (Gandhi was jailed soon after his return as the sole Indian representative attending the second Round Table Conference.) The third and final conference did, however, result in the Government of India Act of 1935, giving the Indian provinces a system of autonomous government in which elections would be held to name provincial leaders. By the time the 1935 act was signed into law, Indians began to see Nehru as the natural heir to Gandhi, who didn’t designate Nehru as his political successor until the early 1940s. Gandhi said in January 1941, "[Jawaharlal Nehru and I] had differences from the time we became co-workers and yet I have said for some years and say so now that ... Jawaharlal will be my successor."

World War II

At the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, British viceroy Lord Linlithgow committed India to the war effort without consulting the now-autonomous provincial ministries. In response, the Congress Party withdrew its representatives from the provinces and Gandhi staged a limited civil disobedience movement in which he and Nehru were jailed yet again.

Nehru spent a little over a year in jail and was released with other Congress prisoners three days before Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese. When Japanese troops soon moved near the borders of India in the spring of 1942, the British government decided to enlist India to combat this new threat, but Gandhi, who still essentially had the reins of the movement, would accept nothing less than independence and called on the British to leave India. Nehru reluctantly joined Gandhi in his hardline stance and the pair were again arrested and jailed, this time for nearly three years.

By 1947, within two years of Nehru's release, simmering animosity had reached a fever pitch between the Congress Party and the Muslim League, who had always wanted more power in a free India. The last British viceroy, Louis Mountbatten, was charged with finalizing the British roadmap for withdrawal with a plan for a unified India. Despite his reservations, Nehru acquiesced to Mountbatten and the Muslim League's plan to divide India, and in August 1947, Pakistan was created—the new country Muslim and India predominantly Hindu. The British withdrew and Nehru became independent India’s first prime minister.

The First Prime Minister of Independent India

Domestic policy.

The importance of Nehru in the context of Indian history can be distilled to the following points: he imparted modern values and thought, stressed secularism, insisted upon the basic unity of India, and, in the face of ethnic and religious diversity, carried India into the modern age of scientific innovation and technological progress. He also prompted social concern for the marginalized and poor and respect for democratic values.

Nehru was especially proud to reform the antiquated Hindu civil code. Finally, Hindu widows could enjoy equality with men in matters of inheritance and property. Nehru also changed Hindu law to criminalize caste discrimination.

Nehru's administration established many Indian institutions of higher learning, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the Indian Institutes of Technology, and the National Institutes of Technology, and guaranteed in his five-year plans free and compulsory primary education to all of India's children.

National Security and International Policy

The Kashmir region—which was claimed by both India and Pakistan—was a perennial problem throughout Nehru's leadership, and his cautious efforts to settle the dispute ultimately failed, resulting in Pakistan making an unsuccessful attempt to seize Kashmir by force in 1948. The region has remained in dispute into the 21st century.

Internationally, starting in the late 1940s, both the United States and the U.S.S.R. began seeking out India as an ally in the Cold War, but Nehru led efforts toward a "nonalignment policy," by which India and other nations wouldn’t feel the need to tie themselves to either dueling country to thrive. To this end, Nehru co-founded the Non-Aligned Movement of nations professing neutrality.

Recognizing the People's Republic of China soon after its founding, and as a strong supporter of the United Nations, Nehru argued for China’s inclusion in the UN and sought to establish warm and friendly relations with the neighboring country. His pacifist and inclusive policies with respect to China came undone when border disputes led to the Sino-Indian war in 1962, which ended when China declared a ceasefire on November 20, 1962, and announced its withdrawal from the disputed area in the Himalayas.

Nehru's four pillars of domestic policies were democracy, socialism, unity, and secularism, and he largely succeeded in maintaining a strong foundation of all four during his tenure as president. While serving his country, he enjoyed iconic status and was widely admired internationally for his idealism and statesmanship. His birthday, November 14, is celebrated in India as Baal Divas ("Children's Day") in recognition of his lifelong passion and work on behalf of children and young people.

Nehru's only child, Indira, served as India's prime minister from 1966 to 1977 and from 1980 to 1984 when she was assassinated. Her son, Rajiv Gandhi, was prime minister from 1984 to 1989, when he was also assassinated.

QUICK FACTS

• Name: Jawaharlal Nehru
• Birth Year: 1889
• Birth date: November 14, 1889
• Birth City: Allahabad
• Birth Country: India
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi’s father, was a leader of India’s nationalist movement and became India’s first prime minister after its independence.
• Civil Rights
• World Politics
• War and Militaries
• Astrological Sign: Scorpio
• Trinity College
• Nacionalities
• Death Year: 1964
• Death date: May 27, 1964
• Death City: New Delhi
• Death Country: India

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CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Jawaharlal Nehru Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
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• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: April 20, 2021
• Original Published Date: April 3, 2014

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Jawaharlal Nehru

By: History.com Editors

Updated: August 21, 2018 | Original: November 9, 2009

An influential leader in the Indian independence movement and political heir of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru became the nation’s first prime minister in 1947. Although faced with the challenge of uniting a vast population diverse in culture, language and religion, he successfully established various economic, social and educational reforms that earned him the respect and admiration of millions of Indians. His policies of non-alignment and Panchscheel—principles of peaceful coexistence—guided India’s international relations until the outbreak of the Sino-Indian War in 1962, which contributed to his declining health and subsequent death in 1964, ending his 17-years in office. His daughter, Indira Gandhi, and grandson, Rajiv Gandhi, later served as prime ministers.

Jawaharlal Nehru: Early Life and Family

Jawaharlal Nehru was born into an affluent Kashmiri Brahman family in Allahabad on November 14, 1889. Tutored at home until the age of 15, Nehru subsequently attended Harrow in England and, later, Trinity College, Cambridge. After studying law at London’s Inner Temple, he returned to India at the age of 22 where he practiced law with his father and prominent barrister, Motilal Nehru.

Did you know? In 1949, after zookeepers had killed most of Tokyo’s wild animals to prevent them from escaping during World War II air raids, Nehru delighted Japanese children by presenting Ueno Zoo with an Indian elephant.

In 1916, four years after his parents had made the suitable arrangement, Nehru married 17-year-old Kamala Kaul. The following year, their only child, Indira Priyadarshini, was born.

Jawaharlal Nehru: Political Awakening

Upon learning of esteemed theosophist Annie Besant’s arrest in 1917, Nehru was moved to join the All India Home Rule League, an organization devoted to obtaining self-government within the British Empire. In April 1919, British troops opened fire on thousands of unarmed civilians who had been protesting recently passed legislation that permitted the detainment of suspected political foes without trial. The Massacre of Amritsar, in which 379 Indians were killed and more than a thousand others were wounded, outraged Nehru and further solidified his resolve to win India’s independence.

During the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22) led by Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru was imprisoned for the first time for activities against the British government and, over the course of the next two and a half decades, spent a total of nine years in jail.

In 1929, Jawaharlal was elected president of the Indian National Congress—his first leadership role in politics—whereby he promoted the goal of complete independence from Britain as opposed to dominion status. In response to Britain’s declaration of India’s participation in the war against Germany at the onset of World War II without consulting Indian leaders, members of Congress passed the Quit India resolution on August 8, 1942, demanding political freedom from Britain in exchange for support in the war effort. The following day, the British government arrested all Congress leaders, including Nehru and Gandhi.

Jawaharlal Nehru: Challenges and Legacy as Prime Minister

On August 15, 1947, India finally gained its independence and Nehru became the nation’s first prime minister. Amid the celebration of newly acquired freedom, there was also considerable turmoil. The mass displacement that followed partition into the separate nations of Pakistan and India, along with disputes over control of Kashmir, resulted in the loss of property and lives for several hundred thousand Muslims and Hindus.

Throughout his 17-year leadership, Nehru advocated democratic socialism and secularism and encouraged India’s industrialization beginning with the implementation of the first of his five-year plans in 1951, which emphasized the importance of increasing agricultural production. He also promoted scientific and technological advancements through the establishment of higher learning, and instituted various social reforms such as free public education and meals for Indian children, legal rights for women—including the ability to inherit property and divorce their husbands—and laws to prohibit discrimination based on caste.

During the Cold War , Nehru adopted a policy of non-alignment in which he professed neutrality, but was criticized when he refused to condemn the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956 and later requested foreign aid after China invaded India’s northern border in 1962. The conflict, known as the Sino-Indian War, had a deleterious effect on Nehru’s health, resulting in a severe stroke in January of 1964 and his death a few months later on May 27.

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Shri Jawaharlal Nehru

Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was born in Allabahad on November 14, 1889. He received his early education at home under private tutors. At the age of fifteen, he went to England and after two years at Harrow, joined Cambridge University where he took his tripos in Natural Sciences. He was later called to the Bar from Inner Temple. He returned to India in 1912 and plunged straight into politics. Even as a student, he had been interested in the struggle of all nations who suffered under foreign domination. He took keen interest in the Sinn Fein Movement in Ireland. In India, he was inevitably drawn into the struggle for independence.

In 1912, he attended the Bankipore Congress as a delegate, and became Secretary of the Home Rule League, Allahabad in 1919. In 1916 he had his first meeting with Mahatma Gandhi and felt immensely inspired by him. He organised the first Kisan March in Pratapgarh District of Uttar Pradesh in 1920. He was twice imprisoned in connection with the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920-22.

Pt. Nehru became the General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee in September 1923. He toured Italy, Switzerland, England, Belgium, Germany and Russia in 1926. In Belgium, he attended the Congress of Oppressed Nationalities in Brussels as an official delegate of the Indian National Congress. He also attended the tenth anniversary celebrations of the October Socialist Revolution in Moscow in 1927. Earlier, in 1926, at the Madras Congress, Nehru had been instrumental in committing the Congress to the goal of Independence. While leading a procession against the Simon commission, he was lathi-charged in Lucknow in 1928. On August 29, 1928 he attended the All-Party Congress and was one of the signatories to the Nehru Report on Indian Constitutional Reform, named after his father Shri Motilal Nehru. The same year, he also founded the ‘Independence for India League’, which advocated complete severance of the British connection with India, and became its General Secretary.

In 1929, Pt. Nehru was elected President of the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress, where complete independence for the country was adopted as the goal. He was imprisoned several times during 1930-35 in connection with the Salt Satyagraha and other movements launched by the Congress. He completed his ‘Autobiography’ in Almora Jail on February 14, 1935. After release, he flew to Switzerland to see his ailing wife and visited London in February-March, 1936. He also visited Spain in July 1938, when the country was in the throws of Civil War. Just before the court-break of the Second World War, he visited China too.

On October 31, 1940 Pt. Nehru was arrested for offering individual Satyagraha to protest against India’s forced participation in war. He was released along with the other leaders in December 1941. On August 7, 1942 Pt. Nehru moved the historic ‘Quit India’ resolution at the A.I.C.C. session in Bombay. On August 8,1942 he was arrested along with other leaders and taken to Ahmednagar Fort. This was his longest and also his last detention. In all, he suffered imprisonment nine times. After his release in January 1945, he organized legal defence for those officers and men of the INA charged with treason. In March 1946, Pt. Nehru toured South East Asia. He was elected President of the Congress for the fourth time on July 6, 1946 and again for three more terms from 1951 to 1954.

Biography Online

Jawaharlal Nehru Biography

Nehru was born in Allabhad and was educated in England, going to school at Harrow and later studying law at Trinity College, Cambridge.

On returning to India in 1912, he practised law and got married to Kamala Kaul. They had one daughter – Indira Gandhi (who would later succeed her father as Prime Minister of India).

In 1919, in the wake of the Amritsar massacre and growing calls for Indian independence, Nehru joined the Indian National Congress. He was a supporter of complete independence for India.

In 1927, Nehru was an influential voice in advocating the call for complete independence from the British Empire. Gandhi was initially reluctant but came to accept Nehru’s leadership. After the British rejected dominion status, Nehru became leader of Congress and in December 1929 issued India’s declaration of Independence.

“We believe that it is the inalienable right of the Indian people, as of any other people, to have freedom and to enjoy the fruits of their toil and have the necessities of life, so that they may have full opportunities of growth. We believe also that if any government deprives a people of these rights and oppresses them the people have a further right to alter it or abolish it.”

During the 1920s and 1930s, he actively participated in the civil disobedience campaigns and was jailed on several occasions. He was one of the rising stars of the Indian independence movement and became seen as the natural successor to  Mahatma Gandhi . As Gandhi took a more backseat role in political affairs and concentrated more on spiritual matters, Nehru became the defacto leader of the Indian independence movement.

In the 1930s, Nehru was working with Subhas Chandra Bose but split with Bose when he sought Axis help to drive the British from India.

In 1942, Nehru followed Gandhi’s ‘Quit India Movement’. Nehru had misgivings as he supported the British War effort against Nazi Germany, but was torn as he also wanted the British to leave India. In 1942, he was arrested for protesting and was put in jail until 1945.

On release from jail, Nehru found the Muslim league of Jinnah were much stronger and although opposed to partition, under pressure from Lord Mountbatten he came to view it as an inevitability. Nehru was initially opposed to the plan to separate India into two. However, under pressure from Mountbatten (the last British Viceroy), Nehru reluctantly agreed.

On gaining independence on August 15th, 1947, Nehru became India’s first Prime Minister. On the eve of India’s independence, Nehru gave a speech to Congress and the nation – known as “Tryst with Destiny”

“Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.” – Nehru, Tryst with Destiny

However, his joy at India’s independence was overshadowed by the wave of sectarian killing and conflict over Kashmir which continues to this day.

As Prime Minister, Nehru played a crucial role in cementing the newly independent Republic of India as a democratic state committed to liberal democracy. Importantly, Nehru limited the power of Indian princes and princely states – Nehru was wary of the ‘divine right of kings’ after being imprisoned in the princely state of Nabha. In 1950, Nehru signed the Indian constitution which enshrined in law – universal rights and democratic principles. A year after Gandhi’s assassination, he wrote an anonymous article about himself –

“He must be checked, we want no Caesars.”

On the domestic front, Nehru was in the tradition of Fabian socialism – seeking to use state intervention to redistribute resources throughout society. He was sympathetic to aspects of Marxism, though critical of how it was implemented in countries like the Soviet Union. His government set up a system of universal education for children. This considerable achievement is marked annually on his birthdate (14 Nov) with a special anniversary –  Bal Divas ‘Children’s day’

Nehru was a lifelong liberal and pursued policies to improve the welfare of the ‘untouchable class’ and Indian Women. Nehru was committed to secular ideas – once described as a Hindu agnostic. He was proud of India’s Hindu heritage but also feared religion could become ossified and hold back India’s development.

In foreign policy, Nehru was one of the leading figures in the non-aligned movement. Nehru sought to keep India out of the Cold war; he didn’t want India to rely on foreign states – be it Russia or America.

“Peace is not only an absolute necessity for us in India in order to progress and develop but also of paramount importance to the world.” Speech at Columbia University (1949)

As a statesman, Nehru was appreciated for his calm temperament and willingness to seek understanding between nations and conflicting parties. He carried himself with a degree of humility and willingness to seek a peaceful solution.

“We must constantly remind ourselves that whatever our religion or creed, we are all one people.”  (Radio broadcast. 1 December 1947)

In 1962, India was involved in a conflict with China over a border dispute. Militarily India was defeated and this took a heavy toll on Nehru. Nehru died in 1964. Two years later his daughter Indira Gandhi took office.

Nehru married Kamala Kaul in 1916 – they had one daughter Indira Gandhi. In 1942, Indira married Feroze Gandhi with whom they had two sons – Rajiv (b. 1944) and Sanjay (b. 1946).

Citation:  Pettinger, Tejvan . “Biography of Jawaharlal Nehru” Oxford,  www.biographyonline.net  12th Jan. 2011. Updated 12th Jan 2018.

An Autobiography of Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru  – A Contemporary’s Estimate at Amazon.com

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Jawaharlal nehru.

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India and a prominent personality in the Indian freedom movement, was born on 14 November 1889 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. His father, Motilal Nehru was a renowned lawyer and one of Mahatma Gandhi’s notable lieutenants. His mother, Swarup Rani Nehru came from a well-known Kashmiri Brahmin family settled in Lahore. Jawaharlal Nehru had two sisters Vijyalakshmi Pandit and Krishna Hatheesing. In 1916, Jawaharlal married Kamala Kaul, and they were blessed with a child, Indira Priyadarshini.

Nehru described his childhood as a “sheltered and uneventful one”. He grew up in an atmosphere of privilege at wealthy homes including a large palatial estate called the Anand Bhawan at Allahabad. His father had him educated at home by private governesses and tutors until he was 16. Under the influence of one of the tutors, Ferdinand T. Brooks, Nehru became interested in science and theosophy.

In 1905 Nehru went to England and studied at Harrow, then at Trinity College, Cambridge and graduated with an Honours degree in Natural Science in 1910. He later studied Law at the Inns of Court School of Law (Inner Temple), London.

Nehru returned to India in August 1912, and enrolled himself as an advocate of the Allahabad High Court. However, he did not relish either the practice of law or the company of lawyers. He began to involve in nationalist politics gradually in the coming years. Within months of his return to India in 1912, he had attended an annual session of the Indian National Congress in Patna. He collected funds for the civil rights campaigners led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1913. Later, he campaigned against the indentured labour and other such discriminations faced by Indians in the British colonies. However, Nehru was not satisfied with the pace of the national movement. He became involved with more outspoken nationalist leaders who were demanding Home Rule for Indians.

The year 1915 witnessed the advent of Mahatma Gandhi in Indian politics, which substantially transformed the course of struggle for India’s Independence. His creed of peace and non-violence made the national movement into a mass all India movement. Nehru met Mahatma Gandhi for the first time in the Congress session at Lucknow in December 1916 and Gandhi had a major impact on Nehru in his active politics. In Fenner Brockway words, “The Association of Gandhi and Nehru for over thirty years is an epic in human co-operation. Their names are indissoluble in the record of India’s struggle for freedom”. He was also deeply impressed by Gautama Buddha. He had written, “The story of Gautama Buddha has influenced me from my childhood. The influence was two-fold. First it influenced me as a story and second I liked the scientific attitude reflected therein, the scientific and ethical attitude”.

The first major active involvement of Nehru in mass politics came at the onset of the Non-Cooperation movement in 1920. He led the movement in the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh), and was arrested on charges of anti-government activities in 1921. He was released a few months later. Gradually, he became intensely involved with the problems of cultivators and the poor. He led the kisan (peasant) movement and no-tax campaign in U.P. in 1930. For him, “imperialism was a curse which should be lifted from the brows of men, that poverty was incompatible with civilization, that nationalism should be poised on a sense of international community and that it was not sufficient to brood on these things when action was urgent and compelling”. These were the principles which inspired and gave vitality to Jawaharlal Nehru’s activities in the years of India’s struggle for freedom. During the first twenty-five years of his political life, i.e. between 1920 and 1945, he spent more time in jail than outside.

Nehru played a leading role in the development of the internationalist outlook of the Indian independence struggle. His efforts paid off in 1927. The Congress was invited to attend the Congress of Oppressed Nationalities in Brussels, Belgium. The meeting was called to co-ordinate and plan a common struggle against imperialism. Nehru represented India and was elected to the Executive Council of the League against Imperialism that was set up during this meeting. Also, Nehru’s visit to Europe in 1936 proved to be the watershed in his political and economic thinking. Nehru’s real interest in Marxism and his socialist pattern of thought stem from these tours.

His dynamic leadership, understanding of national and international issues, won for him a significant place in the Indian national movement. He was chosen as Congress President for a number of times before and after Independence -- 1929, 1936, 1937 and 1946 and in 1951-54. He was the President of the Lahore session of the Congress in 1929 when the AICC adopted the resolution for Complete Independence ‘Purna Swaraj’ from the British Raj and also moved the Quit India resolution in 1942. In 1946, Nehru headed an interim Government of India and had to preside over the issue of the partition of India.

Jawaharlal Nehru also supported the cause of the people in the Princely States and helped to make their struggle as a part of the nationalist movement for independence. The All India States People’s Conference was formed in 1927, and Nehru, who had been supporting the cause of the people of the Princely States for many years, was made the President of the Conference in 1935. This body later played an important role during the political integration of India.

Nehru took office as the Prime Minister of India on 15 August 1947, and delivered his famous inaugural address titled “Tryst with Destiny”. He knew that India’s tryst with destiny meant the sovereignty of the people and the acceptance of the primacy of equality. His vision for modern India based on a dream of a sovereign and democratic republic. But his immediate task was to set the house in order. The trauma of transition coupled with Partition posed a plethora of problems and challenges.

The Constitution of India was enacted in 1950, after which he embarked on his ambitious programme of economic, social and political reforms. Chiefly, he oversaw India’s transition from a colony to an independent republic, while nurturing a plural, multi-party democracy. The first major test of Indian democracy came with the general election of 1951-52 held on the basis of adult franchise in which over 173 million voters were registered. The successful conduct of that election received appreciation from various quarters. It was the direct result of his dream being fulfilled by establishing Panchayati Raj and universal adult franchise, which strengthened the parliamentary democracy. To have smooth functioning of administration, he constituted the State Reorganization Committee and set forth the process of re-organising states on linguistic basis. He also gave a clear direction to India’s role in the comity of nations with the policy of non-alignment and the principles of Panchsheel.

Jawaharlal Nehru believed in planned economic development based on import substitution, industrialisation. He advocated a mixed economy where the government controlled public sector would co-exist with the private sector. He believed that the establishment of basic and heavy industry was fundamental to the development and modernisation of the Indian economy. The government, therefore, directed investment primarily into the key public sector industries -- steel, iron, coal, and power -- promoting their development with subsidies and protectionist policies. The Planning Commission was set up in 1950. Under Nehru’s leadership, the government also attempted to develop India by embarking on agrarian reform, abolition of Zamindari system and rapid industrialisation. The 1960s saw the start of the Green Revolution, an effort to diversify and increase crop production.

However, in the pursuit of development, the government never lost sight of the Scheduled Tribes people and the Backward Classes. The concern for the Scheduled Tribes people demonstrated in his approach to the needs of backward regions. He has said “I approached them in a spirit of comradeship”. He was in close touch with Verrier Elwin who was well-versed in cultural aspects of Scheduled Tribes of India, to devise approaches to problems faced by the tribals of India. Along with all the efforts to enable national integration, there were efforts to protect their identity and their rich cultural heritage.

Nehru was an advocate of education for India’s children and youth, believing it essential for India’s future progress. The government oversaw the establishment of many institutions of higher learning and centre for arts and culture such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Lalit Kala Akademi, the Sahitya Akademi and Indian Council of World Affairs.

The Parliament enacted much far reaching legislation such as the Hindu Law and Hindu Civil Code, which increased the legal rights and gave social empowerment to women. A system of reservation in government services, educational institutions and legislatures was created to end the social inequalities and disadvantages faced by the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Nehru also championed secularism and religious harmony by increasing the representation of minorities in government.

Nehru took great interest in the development of science and technology and firmly believed that scientific temper and scientific approach to problems would liberate India from economic miseries and social justice. Nehru was one of the first persons to use the term “Scientific Temper” and advocated its promotion. He wrote in his book Discovery of India, “It is the scientific approach, the adventurous and yet critical temper of science, the search for truth and new knowledge, the refusal to accept anything without testing and trial, the capacity to change previous conclusions in the face of new evidence, the reliance on observed fact and not on pre-conceived theory, the hard discipline of the mind—all this is necessary, not merely for the application of science but for life itself and the solution of its many problems”. As he himself explained it: “Politics led me to economics and this led me inevitably to science and scientific approach to all our problems and to life itself. It is science alone that would solve the problems of hunger and poverty”. The principal accomplishment in Science and Technology in the Nehru era was the creation of a large infrastructure covering the physical, chemical, biological, engineering services and technology. Two main areas of thrust were the development of the atomic energy and through it, the space programme, and setting up a large chain laboratories under the Council for Science and Industrial Research (CSIR). He also laid the foundation of atomic energy and research. He worked very closely with Homi Bhabha, S.S. Bhatnagar, Vikram Sarabhai and others and made significant efforts to reduce bureaucracy in scientific establishments.

Nehru also laid the foundation of big dams, such as Bhakra Nangal, Hirakud and Nagarjuna Sagar. He considered them the “Temples of Modern India”. He also laid the foundation of steel plants of Bhilai, Rourkela and Durgapur in collaboration with the Soviet Union, Germany and England. Once Dr. S. Radhakrishnan said about Nehru that “No homage is necessary for him. Modern India is the greatest monument which he has built for himself”.

Nehru was the architect of India’s foreign policy. He began to take interest in world affairs long before Independence, when India had no international status. In the 1930s his sympathies were with Abyssinia and Republic of Spain. Independent India’s policy of non-alignment and Panchsheela, influenced by Gautama Buddha, were as much the gift of Nehru as of Indian tradition. On 15 August 1949, Nehru declared from the Red Fort, “In our foreign policy, we have proclaimed that we shall join no power bloc and endeavour to co-operate and be friendly with all countries.” As a leader of free India, Nehru recognized that his country could neither stay out of the World nor could it divert of its own interest in world affairs. Hence, he firmly believed that India must follow its own course in world affairs and not allow itself to be used by any other country, however powerful that country might be. The policy of Non-Alignment was the natural growth of such thinking. He wanted international disputes to be settled by peaceful negotiations, failing that by arbitration and not by war. Hence, he supported the role of the United Nations Organisation.

The Chinese aggression in 1962 was a grave challenge to Nehru’s prestige. It unified the nation in support of its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

On the international scene, Nehru was a champion of peace and a strong supporter of the United Nations. He pioneered the policy of non-alignment and co-founded the Non-Aligned Movement of nations professing independence from the then rival blocs of nations, the West led by the USA and the socialist bloc of the USSR.

Nehru, while a champion of peace, was not blind to the political and geo-strategic reality of India in 1947, which resulted in the establishment of the Atomic Energy Commission of India (AEC) in 1948 and also laying the foundation stone of the National Defence Academy (India) in 1949.

Nehru was a prolific writer. He wrote many books and articles for a number of newspapers and journals. During the freedom struggle, he spent over ten years in prison where he produced his great works such as The Discovery of India, Glimpses of World History, An Autobiography, Towards Freedom, and Letters from a Father to His Daughter.

In 1955 Nehru was awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour of the country. Nehru was loved by all, including his comrades or opponents. In fact Nehru has written in his Will and Testament that “I have received so much love and affection from the Indian people that nothing that I can repay a small fraction of it, and indeed there can be no repayment of so precious a thing as affection”. His birthday on 14th of November is celebrated in India as Bal Divas (Children’s Day) on behalf of children and young people. Children across India remember him as Chacha Nehru.

Like Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru also laid great stress on cleanliness. He said that people of India must learn to keep their surroundings clean. It is not only important on hygienic point of view but also in respect of their health medically. He wanted that people should be self-reliant in all respect and not to depend on government agencies totally. In one of the occasions he said that everybody expects the Government should do it but it is quite impossible for any Government to undertake the hundreds and thousands of small village schemes that could easily be undertaken by the villagers themselves. He said, “There is need for developing the spirit of self-reliance among the villagers. Some simple norms should be laid down for testing the people’s preparedness to do things themselves. The community development programme should be extended to any new areas unless people in that region demonstrate their spirit of self-help by undertaking elementary schemes of community benefit like the keeping the village clean. In the existing blocks, additional financial allocations should be contingent on the people’s initiative and capacity for discharging their own responsibilities”.

The man, who made such a powerful imprint on India, passed away on 27 May 1964. However, he would be remembered not just as India’s foremost and pioneering Prime Minister, but also as one of the greatest statesmen of the modern world. Mahatma Gandhi gave him the greatest compliment, “He is pure as the crystal. He is truthful beyond suspicion.

Nehru will be remembered for his modern values and thoughts, insistence upon the Unity of India, and in the face of ethnic and religious diversity, taking India into the modern age of scientific innovation and technological progress, social concerns for the marginalised and poor, and respect for democratic values.

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• Jawaharlal Nehru Biography

Jawahar Lal Nehru’s Biography - A journey of Struggle, Sacrifice and Victory

Jawahar Lal Nehru was an Indian independence fighter and the first prime minister of India. He was considered as a central warrior in Indian Politics before independence as well as after independence. He was born on 14 November 1889 in Allahabad and served the nation from 1947 until his death in 1964. The birthplace of Jawahar Lal Nehru is Prayagraj which is in Allahabad. Due to his association with the Kashmiri Pandit community, he was also known as Pandit Nehru, while the Indian kids referred to them as Chacha Nehru. Jawahar Lal Nehru’s birthday is widely celebrated as Children’s day. His father’s name is Motilal Nehru who served as Indian Prime minister in 1919 and 1928. His mother’s name is Swarup Rani Thussu and she was the second wife of Motilal. Jawahar Lal Nehru had 2 sisters and he was the eldest among all. Vijay Laxmi was the eldest sister who later became the President of the United Nations General Assembly. And the youngest sister Krishna Hutheesing was a noted writer and authored several books on her brother. Jawahar Lal Nehru was married to Kamala Nehru who was born in 1899.

Childhood and Early Age:

He grew up in a privileged atmosphere in a rich home. His father trained him by private governesses and tutors. Nehru became interested in science and theosophy under the influence of Ferdinand T. Brooks' tutelage. At the age of thirteen, family friend Annie Besant subsequently introduced him to the Theosophical Society. For nearly three years Brooks was with me and in some ways, he influenced me greatly.

Jawahar Lal Nehru’s Education:

In October 1907, Nehru visited Trinity College, Cambridge, and graduated with an honours degree in science in 1910. He also studied politics, economics, history, and literature with little interest during this time. Most of his political and financial philosophy was molded by the writings of Bernard Shaw, H. G. Wells, John Maynard Keynes, Bertrand Russell, Lowes Dickinson, and Meredith Townsend.

After completing his degree in 1910, Nehru moved to London and studied law at the Inner Temple Inn. During this period, including Beatrice Webb, he continued researching the Fabian Society scholars. He was called to the Bar in 1912.

Early Struggle for Independence (1912 - 1938)

During his time in Britain as a student and a barrister, Nehru developed an interest in Indian politics. Nehru attended an annual session of the Indian National Congress in Patna within months of his return to India in 1912. In 1912, Congress was the party of progressives and elites, and he was disconcerted by what he saw as "very much an English-knowing upper-class affair." Nehru had reservations about Congress' efficacy but decided to work for the party to support the Indian civil rights movement led in South Africa by Mahatma Gandhi, raising funds for the movement in 1913. Later, in the British colonies, he protested against indentured labour and other such injustice faced by Indians.

Non-Cooperation Movement:

Nehru's first significant national participation came at the beginning of the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920. Nehru was arrested in 1921 on charges of anti-government activities Nehru remained loyal to Gandhi in the rift that developed within the Congress following the sudden closure of the Non-Cooperation movement after the Chauri Chaura incident and did not join the Swaraj Party formed by his father Motilal Nehru and CR Das.

Salt Satyagraha Success:

The Salt Satyagraha succeeded in attracting the world's attention. Increasingly, Indian, British, and world views started to accept the validity of the Congress party's independence claims. Nehru found the high-water mark of his involvement with Gandhi to be the salt satyagraha and thought that its enduring significance was in transforming Indian attitudes.

Jawahar Lal Nehru The First Prime Minister of India:

Nehru served for 18 years as prime minister, first as temporary prime minister, and then as prime minister of the Republic of India from 1950.

In the 1946 elections Congress captured a majority of seats in the assembly and, with Nehru as the prime minister, led the provisional government. On 15 August 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru was sworn in as the first Prime Minister of Free India. On 15 August, he took office because the Prime Minister of India and gave his inaugural entitled "Tryst with Destiny".

Hindu Marriage Law and Role of Jawahar Lal Nehru:

Several laws passed such as the Hindu Code law in the 1950s that sought to codify and amend Hindu personal law in India. After India's independence in 1947, this codification and change, a process initiated by the British Raj, was completed by the Indian National Congress government headed by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The object of the Hindu Code Bill was to provide a civil code instead of a body of personal Hindu law, which had been amended only to a limited extent by the British authorities. On 9 April 1948, the bill was submitted to the Constituent Assembly, but it created a lot of uproars and was subsequently broken down to three more specialized bills that came before the 1952-7 term of the Lok Sabha. The Hindu Marriage Bill abolished polygamy and included restrictions on inter-caste marriages and divorce procedures; the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Bill had the adoption of girls as its main thrust, which had been little practiced until then; the Hindu Succession Bill put daughters on the same footing as widows and sons when it came to family property inheritance.

1952 Elections and Jawahar Lal Nehru:

Following the constitution's ratification on 26 November 1949, the Constituent Assembly, before new elections, proceeded to serve as the provisional parliament. The interim cabinet of Nehru was composed of 15 representatives from different communities and parties. Different cabinet members resigned from their positions and formed their parties to contest the elections. Nehru was also elected the president of Congress for 1951 and 1952 while being the PM. In the election, the Congress party under the leadership of Nehru won significant majorities at both state and national level, despite a large number of parties competing.

Death of Jawahar Lal Nehru:

After 1962, Nehru's health started to decline slowly, and he spent months recovering in Kashmir until 1963. He felt very relaxed after his return from Dehradun on 26 May 1964 and went to bed, as usual, he had a restful night after he returned from the bathroom, Nehru complained of back pain. He talked to the doctors who were attending him for a short time, and Nehru collapsed almost instantly. Before he died, he remained unconscious. His death was registered to Lok Sabha on 27 May 1964 (the same day) the cause of death is suspected to be a heart attack. The body of Jawaharlal Nehru was put for public viewing on the Indian national Tri-colour flag. Nehru was cremated on 28 May at Shantivan on the banks of the Yamuna by Hindu rituals, witnessed by 1.5 million mourners flocking to the streets of Delhi and the cremation grounds.

FAQs on Jawaharlal Nehru Biography

Q1. Why do we Celebrate Jawahar Lal Nehru’s Birthday as a Children’s Day?

Ans. Every year, 14th November is celebrated as children’s day. Jawahar Lal Nehru also remembered as Chacha Nehru was the first-ever Prime Minister of India. Children’s day is celebrated for the awareness of child rights, child care, and education for all children. According to him, children were the real assets and strength of society. Cultural activities for children are held across the world on this day, in different schools, colleges, and other educational institutions. There are some programs and events, which also see the involvement of students. Kids also dress up as Jawaharlal Nehru with a red rose pinned to their 'Nehru' jacket collar.

Q2. What was Nehru’s Contribution Towards India?

Ans. After achieving independence, Jawaharlal Nehru was India's first Prime Minister. He was previously one of the influential leaders of the Indian National Congress, having pulled the intellectuals and youth of the country into the movement's mainstream. His descendants were also influential Indian politicians, including Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi. Nehru played a leading role in the growth of the Indian independence struggle's internationalist perspective. He found foreign allies for India and forged relations with independence and democracy movements around the world. He brought moderate socialist economic reforms into practice and dedicated India to an industrialization policy. Also, Nehru acted as India's foreign minister.

Q3. Explain the Education History of Jawahar Lal Nehru?

Ans. Jawaharlal Nehru had a Western childhood, in large part. He was homeschooled in India as a child, often by a series of governesses and tutors in English. In October 1907, Nehru went to Trinity College, Cambridge, and graduated in 1910 with an honors degree in natural science. He started his education in England, in London at Harrow School, and in Cambridge at Trinity College. He also studied politics, economics, history, and literature with little interest during this time. He spent seven years in England, but he was very confused and still felt neither in England nor in India that he was in a half-home. "I have become a queer mixture of East and West, out of place everywhere, at home now where" I have become a queer East-West combination, out of place anywhere, at home now, where.

World History Edu

• Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru: Biography, Quick Facts, and Major Achievements

by World History Edu · November 26, 2021

Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the most influential Indian nationalists. With the support and mentorship he received from Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru came to lead Indian National Congress, tentatively moving the party to social democratic policies. An important member of the Indian independence movement, Nehru devoted his political career pursuing a united, modernized and independent India. After countless intensive non-violent campaigns and the ‘Quit India’ movement of 1942, Britain finally budged and granted India her independence on August 15, 1947. Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India, serving from 1947 until his death in 1964.

Quick Facts about Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964)

Image: Nehru signing the Indian Constitution

Birthday – November 14, 1889

Place of birth – Allahabad (Prayagraj) India

Died – May 27, 1964

Place of death – Delhi, India

Parents – Motilal Nehru and Swarup Rani Nehru

Siblings – Vijaya Lakshmi, Krishna Hutheesing

Spouse – Kamala Nehru

Daughter – Indira Gandhi

Education – Trinity College, Cambridge; Harrow School in London

Political Party – Indian National Congress

Elected offices – Prime Minister of India (1947-1964)

Most famous for – India’s first Prime Minister

Nicknames – Chacha Nehru, Pandit Nehru

Notable works – Letters from a Father to His Daughter (1929), An Autobiography (1936), the Discovery of India (1946)

Jawaharlal Nehru’s Speech at Columbia University (1949)

Nehru: Summary

Two years after becoming India’s first prime minister, in 1949, Jawaharlal Nehru gave a speech at Columbia University, emphasizing the need for India to have peace in order to fully actualize its true potential. The speech, one of many famous speeches of this Indian Independence leader, highlights some of the visions that Nehru had for his country. An Indian nationalist, Jawaharlal Nehru was an important member of the Indian Independence Movement that included the likes of Mahatma Gandhi , Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and R. Venkataraman. Having had his tertiary education in England, Nehru returned to India in the early part of 1912 and began his decades’ long fight for the complete independence of India from colonial power Britain.

As prime minister of India, Nehru crafted a neutralist foreign policy which enabled him to receive enormous acclaim from member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement. He was also praised for injecting secularism and other liberal democratic principles in a bid to make India a leading role on the international front.

What other feats was Jawaharlal Nehru most famous for? And just how impactful was his tenure as prime minister of India? Below, World History Edu presents the 10 major achievements of Jawaharlal. But first, here is a quick biography of the life of this Indian Independence movement leader.

Quick Biography

Jawaharlal Nehru – biography, facts, and achievements

Nehru was born in Allabhad to a family of Brahmans community. In India’s caste system, the Brahmans are considered the highest ranking class in India most known for religious, administrative, and academic scholarship. Nehru thus grew up in a family of intellectuals; for example, his father Motilal Nehru was a famous lawyer and one of the earliest members of the Indian independence movement. Motilal, who was also associated with Mahatma Gandhi, served as the president of the Indian National Congress on two occasions – 1919 and 1928.

Jawaharlal’s mother, Swarup Rani Thussu, was a member of a very influential Kashmiri Brahmin based in Lahore (in present day Pakistani province of Punjab).

Jawaharlal had two siblings, including his sister Vijaya Lakshmi, who went on to become the first woman to lead the United Nations General Assembly. His other sister Krishna Hutheesing established herself as a writer of many books, particularly about her brother Jawaharlal.

He grew in a very affluent and privileged family. He received his formative education at home until his mid-teens before proceeding to study in the United Kingdom at Harrow in 1905. From 1907 to 1910, he earned a honors degree in natural science at Trinity College in Cambridge.

Nehru dressed in a cadet’s uniform at Harrow School in England

After his studies at Inner Temple, London, he was called to the bar in 1912. He would then take up a job as an advocate of the Allahabad High Court.

He got married to Kamala Kaul in 1916. By his wife Kamala, he gave birth to one daughter – Indira Priyadarshini (later Indira Gandhi), who also went on to become Prime Minister of India.

Nehru and his wife had a son who only survived for about a week after birth.

Following the assassination of his daughter Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru’s grandson Rajiv Gandhi served as prime minister from 1984 to 1989.

Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi

Jawaharlal Nehru gained his formative experience in politics from Mahatma Gandhi who was about 20 years his senior. Image – Gandhi and Nehru during the drafting of Quit India Resolution in Bombay, August 1942,

After training as a barrister at the Inner Temple, London, Jawaharlal returned to work at the Allahabad High Court, where he quickly became very uninterested in practicing law. Unlike his father, he wanted to devote his whole career to working for India’s independence struggle. Initially, he was clueless as to how to realize this dream of his, thus until he met Mahatma Gandhi in 1916. His father and Gandhi are credited with instilling in Jawaharlal the courage to remain resolute in the pursuit of independence from Britain.

10 Major achievements of Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru – history and achievements

Fought against indentured labor and labor and civil rights abuses in India

In 1912, Jawaharlal Nehru joined the activities of the Indian National Congress. Initially he was not so pleased by what he termed as “an English-knowing upper-class affair” in the party. However, in time he came to immerse himself deeply in the civil rights campaigns of the party. On so many occasions he campaigned against practices like indentured labor in India.

During World War I, he offered his services to the St. John Ambulance as a secretary in Allahabad. He and many of his associates from Indian ruling upper classes were vocal against the colonial government’s censorship acts.

A prominent member of India’s Nationalist movement that wanted self-rule immediately

Contrary to what moderate Indian political activists like Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Nehru gravitated towards radical independence activists like Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1856-1920), a man Gandhi described as the “Maker of Modern India”. He had no trust in the western institutions to deliver the necessary political, social and economic reforms that India longed for. He was completely in favor of non-cooperation policies that he hoped would pile up the pressure on Britain to grant Indian self-rule.

Nehru’s slightly radical views were even in contrast to the moderate views his father held. His time spent abroad somehow made a bit discontented with the pace at which India’s journey to self-rule was moving.

Following the death of moderate activist Gokhale in 1915, the national movement was taken over by anti-moderates like Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak, two very important people that Nehru drew a lot of inspiration from.

In the late 1920s, he established the Independence for India League within the Indian National Congress. The goal of the league was to put pressure on Britain to grant India Dominion status immediately. His mentor Gandhi however gave Britain within two years to grant India Dominion status.

Nehru campaigned for unity and dialogue between the Hindus and Muslims

Right from his formative years in politics, Nehru always stood in support of Hindu-Muslim unity and dialogue. He supported the Lucknow Pact of 1916 which was an agreement between his party the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. He reasoned that through pacts of such nature, the nationalist movement would fare better in its quest for at least a Dominion status within the British Empire. Nehru’s efforts, as well as efforts from both nationalist members from both sides, helped in establishing friendly ties between Hindus and Muslim independence activists. Prior to the Lucknow Pact, the two sides considered each other as enemies.

In his 1929 policy draft document for the Congress, he included a number of things that an Independent India would push for. Some of those goals were freedom of religion; equality before law without distinction to color, creed, or caste; and socialism. His draft influenced the “Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy” resolution that got ratified in 1931 by the party.

Jawaharlal Nehru participated fully in the activities of the non-cooperation movement

Beginning around 1920, Nehru had started getting frustrated with the British government dragging its feet in granting India Dominion status or self-government. The young and energetic political activist joined forces with members of the non-cooperation movement in the United Provinces (today’s Uttar Pradesh) to call for Indian unity in resisting Britain.

His actions resulted in him getting arrested for a few months. On February 4, 1922, police violently responded to non violent protests by members of the non-cooperation movement at Chauri Chaura (in modern-day Uttar Pradesh). The protests soon devolved into reprisal attacks from demonstrators, who set ablaze a police station. Taken aback by the deaths of 22 policemen and three civilians, Gandhi called off the activities of the non-cooperation movement nationwide.

Believing that India’s independence struggle was in many ways tied to independence struggles in other parts of the world, Nehru worked in cohort with many international organizations fighting against imperialism and domination. Nehru was sent to Brussels as the representative of the Indian National Congress. He would go on to serve as a member of the Executive Council of the League in Brussels that campaigned against imperialism.

He was elected president of the Indian National Congress

Having properly joined the activities of the Congress Party around the late 1910s, shortly after the end of World War I, Nehru’s election as the president of the Congress in 1929 was one of great feat. No sooner had he taken that position than did he call for complete independence in a resolution before Congress. As a sign of his unbridled determination, he raised the Indian flag upon the banks of the Ravi in Lahore. Soon many nationalists and Congress members began flying the flag of India on buildings around the country.

Nehru’s reputation as the de facto leader of the independence movement was indeed boosted by the 1929 declaration of independence in the Lahore session of the Congress. He thus became Gandhi’s political successor.

With the help of some members of the Congress Socialist Party group, Nehru was able to get elected as president of the Congress from 1936 to 1937.

Nehru was part of the Salt March in 1930

In 1930 Gandhi started a civil disobedience drive to protest the British government’s tax on salt. Nehru and other members of the Congress joined the nonviolent protest. He even participated in the manufacturing of the contraband salt, an activity which got him arrested by the authorities. The Indian independence activists were fighting for Indians to have the right to make salt for domestic use. Nehru was able to rally the village folks to fight against a government that had taken away their dignity through oppressive economic and political policies.

The Salt March, also known as the salt satyagraha (i.e. a passive resistance to salt tax), had a huge impact in raising the issue of India’s independence around the world. On March 5, 1932, the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was born after Gandhi and Lord Irwin, British viceroy of India, were able to come to an amicable solution to end the civil disobedience ( satyagraha ).

Supported the fight against fascism

When World War II broke out in 1939, he called on all Indians to throw their weight in support of Great Britain and other democratic countries against fascism and dictatorship. His support for Great Britain came despite Viceroy Linlithgow not consulting elected Indian representatives of Britain’s intention to get India involved in the war. In exchange for India’s support, Nehru outlined a set of conditions that Britain ought to meet. Those conditions were: granting full independence to India after the war; and the participation of Indians in the central administrative and military branch of government. In spite of those demands being rejected by Linlithgow, Nehru called on all independence activists to remain on the side of democratic countries.

In October 1940, he was slapped with a four-year prison sentence because he of his civil disobedience campaign. His release came in December, 1941.

Jawaharlal Nehru was heavily involved in the Quit India Resolution of 1942

On August 8, 1942, the Indian National Congress passed the Quit India resolution to pile up the pressure on Britain for independence. Because Nehru and Gandhi were at the forefront of the resolution, the two men, as well as other prominent leaders of the Congress, were given prison sentences. In Nehru’s case he stayed behind bars until June 1945. It was Nehru’s longest prison sentence.

He led the Indian National Congress to victory in the 1946 provincial assembly election

In 1946, Nehru and the Congress welcomed the election plan proposed by the British Cabinet Mission to India. At the polls, Nehru and the Congress secured majority of the seats in assembly before going on to form an interim government with Nehru at the head.

First Prime Minister of India

Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Tryst with Destiny” speech

On August 15, 1947, he was sworn in as the first Prime Minister of an independent India. The swearing in ceremony was done by Lord Moutbatten. His inauguration ceremony is most famous for the “Tryst with Destiny” speech. In the speech, he pledged to be resolute in serving the country.

Nehru led the Indian National Congress to victory at the polls in 1952, 1957 and 1962. In all those elections, his party secured majority of the seats in the National Assembly. For example, in 1957, his party secured 371 out of the 494 available seats in parliament. The Indian National Congress had about five times more seats than the second largest party in India at the time – the Communist Party.

Nehru was one of the founding fathers of the Non-Aligned Movement of nations

Nehru’s government had strong admiration for nations did not align themselves neither to Pro-soviet communist bloc (Warsaw Pact) and the pro-American capitalist bloc (NATO). He attended the Bandung Conference in 1955 in Indonesia, where representatives from many African and Asian nations met to discuss the adoption of a non-aligned stand to the then-raging conflict between the Soviet Union and the United States.

On the basis of the decisions that were taken at that Asian-African Conference, the Non-Aligned Movement was born in 1961 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Nehru cooperated with many leaders like Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah , Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser, Indonesia’s Sukarno, and Yugoslavia’s Josip Broz Tito in pushing against imperialism, colonialism, racism and foreign aggression, and occupation.

Nehru’s Accomplishments as Prime Minister of India

Lord Mountbatten swears in Jawaharlal Nehru as the first Prime Minister of independent India on August 15, 1947

He abolished the divine rights of kings in princely states. Upon India becoming a republic, those states joined the Indian republic.

For many years, Nehru worked with many Indian politicians to come out with a new constitution to replace the Government of India Act 1935. After India became independent in 1946, the need for a new constitution became even more apparent. On January 26, 1950, Nehru’s efforts paid off, as India adopted a new constitution.

He developed a national philosophy underpinned by modernism and secularism. Nehru also had things like parliamentary democracy, science and technology, and industrialization as the goals for the new nation.

On the economic front, he tried to boost India’s manufacturing capacity so that the dream of import substitution could be realized. Under his terms as prime minister, a lot of investments were made into industries like steel, coal, and iron.

His non-alignment policy during the Cold War augured very well for India. He was able to draw investors from countries aligned either to the Soviet Union and the United States. It has been estimated that India’s industrial output clocked an average of 7% growth annually during his time in charge. Regarding the size of the economy, Nehru was able to achieve about 4% growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of India.

He instituted a number of very crucial land reforms that enabled the agricultural sector to grow remarkably. For example, in spite of strong resistance from powerful landowners in the rural areas, he abolished the large landholdings, allowing lands to be redistributed in such a manner that it helped the total yield produced in year to increase. To inject science and technology into the industry, he established a number of agricultural universities, which produced high-yielding varieties of crops such as legumes and cereals.

Dwight D. Eisenhower on Jawaharlal Nehru, November 27, 1958

Firmly of the view that education was the only way India could transform itself into an industrialized and high income country, Nehru invested heavily into the education sector. Many institutions of higher learning were established, with special focus on medical sciences, technology, business, and economics. During his terms as prime minister, school enrollment in the rural areas shot up tenfold. The increase in school enrollment was due to his free and compulsory primary education policy. His government even offered free meals to schools in the most impoverished of areas in India.

Nehru’s foreign policy was aimed at building economic and cultural cooperation with nations from Asia and Africa. He took a neutral position as the Cold War raged between the communist bloc, led by the Soviet Union, and the capitalist bloc, led by the United States. Nehru joined the Commonwealth of Nations due to his strong desire work with British Commonwealth countries, many of which were in Africa, with regard to his anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism foreign policy initiative.

Nehru introduced a number of reforms in the country’s marriage, inheritance and property laws. For example, his government criminalized the country’s caste system of discrimination. Under his regime, women were given equal legal and social rights. For example, he reformed the ancient Hindu civil code, allowing Hindu widows to receive equal rights as men when it came to inheritance issues.

It was during his term as prime minister that Hindi was adopted as the lingua franca of India. This decision came in 1950. He passed the Official Languages Act in 1963 to allow English remain as an associate official language official language of the nation. Nehru is therefore responsible for the bilingualism that we see in India today.

Frustrated by Portugal’s refusal to leave its colony of Goa, Nehru was left with no other option than to order a military occupation of Goa in December 1961 before successfully annexing the region. His goal in invading Goa was to dislodge the Portuguese since they did not want to go peacefully like the French and the British had done post-India’s independence.

Death of Jawaharlal Nehru

Beginning around 1962, Nehru’s health began to deteriorate, perhaps due to the Sino-Indian War of 1962. The prime minister suffered his first mild stroke in 1963. On May 27, 1964, he died after suffering his third and final stroke. He was given a full state burial and thereafter his body was cremated in accordance with Hindu rites. The cremation was witness by close to 2 million mourners.

More Jawaharlal Nehru facts

Nehru’s family – (L-R): Swarup Rani Nehru, Motilal Nehru, Krishna, Vijaya Lakshmi and Jawaharlal

It was during Nehru’s third term as prime minister that the Sino-Indian War of 1962 broke out. Nehru had set up military outposts in many disputed areas along the China-India border. The Chinese then responded by attacking those outposts. This marked the beginning of the Sino-Indian War of 1962, which saw India’s unpreparedness and ill-equipped army defeated by the Chinese Army. The defeat prompted Nehru to introduce several reforms to modernize the country’s military and defense policy.

During his time as prime minister, he survived four assassination attempts. The first was in 1947 when he was on a visit to what is now Pakistan. The second and third assassination attempts on Nehru’s life took place in 1955 and 1956 respectively. The fourth one came in Maharashtra in 1961.

Following the assassination of Gandhi on January 30, 1948, Nehru and the Indian National Congress set out to suppress many radical groups and religious paramilitary groups. Gandhi’s death also allowed Nehru’s government to unite the country under a single vision.

He was key in helping the Congress party win big in the 1937 provincial elections. The Indian National Congress emerged as the majority party in the various provinces across India.

Right from the mid-1930s, Nehru was the one who handled the foreign policy and affairs of the Indian National Congress. Additionally, he was tasked to make plans for how the economy of an independent India would like. He performed this task with the help of the National Planning Commission.

Nehru’s activism was not only restricted to territories controlled by the British government, but he also tried very hard to champion the rights and freedoms of Indians living in princely states. He collaborated with the All India States Peoples Conference to work towards this particular goal of his. His goal was to facilitate the integration of those princely states into national agenda.

People who influenced Jawaharlal Nehru

In addition to his father, Motilal Nehru, and Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru was influenced by a number of politicians and authors, including the following:

Majority of Jawaharlal Nehru’s tutors at home were English governesses and tutors. Some of those tutors included Irish Belgian tutor Ferdinand Brooks and Annie Besant. The latter was a family friend famous for being a British socialist, women’s rights activist, writer, and orator. Besant was also active in campaigning for Irish and Indian self-rule.

Nehru took a lot of inspiration from Buddhist and Hindu scriptures. He was also influenced by the works of British historian and academic G.M. Trevelyan (i.e. Garibaldi books), Irish playwright and political activist Bernard Shaw, English writer Herbert George Wells, English economist John Maynard Keynes, and English journalist and editor Meredith Townsend.

Famous quotes by Nehru

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Jawaharlal Nehru, India's First Prime Minister

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On November 14, 1889, a wealthy Kashmiri Pandit lawyer named Motilal Nehru and his wife Swaruprani Thussu welcomed their first baby, a boy they named Jawaharlal. The family lived in Allahabad, at that time in the Northwest Provinces of British India (now Uttar Pradesh). Little Nehru was soon joined by two sisters, both of whom also had illustrious careers.

Jawaharlal Nehru was educated at home, first by governesses and then by private tutors. He particularly excelled at science, while taking very little interest in religion. Nehru became an Indian nationalist quite early in life, and was thrilled by Japan's victory over Russia in the Russo-Japanese War (1905). That event prompted him to dream "of Indian freedom and Asiatic freedom from the thraldom of Europe."

At the age of 16, Nehru went to England to study at the prestigious Harrow School ( Winston Churchill's alma mater). Two years later, in 1907, he entered Trinity College, Cambridge, where in 1910 he took an honors degree in natural sciences - botany, chemistry and geology. The young Indian nationalist also dabbled in history, literature and politics, as well as Keynesian economics, during his university days.

In October of 1910, Nehru joined the Inner Temple in London to study law, at the insistence of his father. Jawaharlal Nehru was admitted to the bar in 1912; he was determined to take the Indian Civil Service exam and use his education to fight against discriminatory British colonial laws and policies.

By the time he returned to India, he had also been exposed to socialist ideas, which were popular amongst the intellectual class in Britain at the time. Socialism would become one of the foundation stones of modern India under Nehru.

Politics and the Independence Struggle

Jawaharlal Nehru returned to India in August of 1912, where he began a half-hearted practice of law in the Allahabad High Court. Young Nehru disliked the legal profession, finding it stultifying and "insipid."

He was much more inspired by the 1912 annual session of the Indian National Congress (INC); however, the INC dismayed him with its elitism. Nehru joined a 1913 campaign led by Mohandas Gandhi , in the start of a decades-long collaboration. Over the next few years, he moved more and more into politics, and away from law.

During the First World War (1914-18), most upper-class Indians supported the Allied cause even as they enjoyed the spectacle of Britain humbled. Nehru himself was conflicted, but came down reluctantly on the side of the Allies, more in support of France than of Britain.

More than 1 million Indian and Nepalese soldiers fought overseas for the Allies in World War I, and about 62,000 died. In return for this show of loyal support, many Indian nationalists expected concessions from Britain once the war was over, but they were to be bitterly disappointed.

Call for Home Rule

Even during the war, as early as 1915, Jawaharlal Nehru began to call for Home Rule for India. This meant that India would be a self-governing Dominion, yet still considered a part of the United Kingdom , much like Canada or Australia.

Nehru joined the All India Home Rule League, founded by family friend Annie Besant , a British liberal and advocate for Irish and Indian self-rule. The 70-year-old Besant was such a powerful force that the British government arrested and jailed her in 1917, prompting huge protests. In the end, the Home Rule movement was unsuccessful, and it was later subsumed in Gandhi's Satyagraha Movement , which advocated complete independence for India.

Meanwhile, in 1916, Nehru married Kamala Kaul. The couple had a daughter in 1917, who would later go on to be Prime Minister of India herself under her married name, Indira Gandhi . A son, born in 1924, died after just two days.

Declaration of Independence

The Indian nationalist movement leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru, hardened their stance against British rule in wake of the horrific Amritsar Massacre in 1919. Nehru was jailed for the first time in 1921 for his advocacy of the non-cooperation movement. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Nehru and Gandhi collaborated ever more closely in the Indian National Congress, each going to prison more than once for civil disobedience actions.

In 1927, Nehru issued a call for complete independence for India. Gandhi opposed this action as premature, so the Indian National Congress refused to endorse it.

As a compromise, in 1928 Gandhi and Nehru issued a resolution calling for home rule by 1930, instead, with a pledge to fight for independence if Britain missed that deadline. The British government rejected this demand in 1929, so on New Year's Eve, at the stroke of midnight, Nehru declared India's independence and raised the Indian flag. The audience there that night pledged to refuse to pay taxes to the British, and to engage in other acts of mass civil disobedience.

Gandhi's first planned act of non-violent resistance was a long walk down to the sea to make salt, known as the Salt March or Salt Satyagraha of March 1930. Nehru and other Congress leaders were skeptical of this idea, but it struck a chord with the ordinary people of India and proved a huge success. Nehru himself evaporated some sea water to make salt in April of 1930, so the British arrested and jailed him again for six months.

Nehru's Vision for India

During the early 1930s, Nehru emerged as the political leader of the Indian National Congress, while Gandhi moved into a more spiritual role. Nehru drafted a set of core principles for India between 1929 and 1931, called the "Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy," which was adopted by the All India Congress Committee. Among the rights enumerated were freedom of expression, freedom of religion, protection of regional cultures and languages, abolition of untouchable status , socialism, and the right to vote.

As a result, Nehru is often called the "Architect of Modern India." He fought hardest for the inclusion of socialism, which many other Congress members opposed. During the later 1930s and early 1940s, Nehru also had almost sole responsibility for drafting the foreign policy of a future Indian nation-state.

World War II and the Quit India Movement

When the Second World War broke out in Europe in 1939, the British declared war against the Axis on behalf of India, without consulting India's elected officials. Nehru, after consulting with the Congress, informed the British that India was prepared to support democracy over Fascism, but only if certain conditions were met. The most important was that Britain must pledge that it would grant complete independence to India as soon as the war was over.

The British Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, laughed at Nehru's demands. Linlithgow turned instead to the leader of the Muslim League, Muhammad ali Jinnah , who promised military support of Britain from India's Muslim population in return for a separate state, to be called Pakistan . The mostly-Hindu Indian National Congress under Nehru and Gandhi announced a policy of non-cooperation with Britain's war effort in response.

When Japan pushed into Southeast Asia, and early in 1942 took control of most of Burma (Myanmar), which was on British India's eastern doorstep, the desperate British government approached the INC and Muslim League leadership once again for aid. Churchill sent Sir Stafford Cripps to negotiate with Nehru, Gandhi and Jinnah. Cripps could not convince the pro-peace Gandhi to support the war effort for any consideration short of full and prompt independence; Nehru was more willing to compromise, so he and his mentor had a temporary falling-out over the issue.

In August of 1942, Gandhi issued his famous call for Britain to "Quit India." Nehru was reluctant to pressure Britain at the time since World War II was not going well for the British, but the INC passed Gandhi's proposal. In reaction, the British government arrested and imprisoned the entire INC working committee, including both Nehru and Gandhi. Nehru would remain in prison for almost three years, until June 15, 1945.

Partition and Prime Ministership

The British released Nehru from prison after the war was over in Europe, and he immediately began to play a key role in negotiations over the future of India. Initially, he vigorously opposed plans to divide the country along sectarian lines into a predominantly-Hindu India and a predominantly-Muslim Pakistan, but when bloody fighting broke out between members of the two religions, he reluctantly agreed to the split.

After the Partition of India , Pakistan became an independent nation led by Jinnah on August 14, 1947, and India became independent the following day under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru embraced socialism, and was a leader of the international non-aligned movement during the Cold War, along with Nasser of Egypt and Tito of Yugoslavia.

As Prime Minister, Nehru instituted wide-spread economic and social reforms that helped India reorganized itself as a unified, modernizing state. He was influential in international politics as well, but could never solve the problem of Kashmir and other Himalayan territorial disputes with Pakistan and with China .

Sino-Indian War of 1962

In 1959, Prime Minister Nehru granted asylum to the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan refugees from China's 1959 Invasion of Tibet . This sparked tensions between the two Asian superpowers, which already had unsettled claims to the Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh areas in the Himalaya Mountain range. Nehru responded with his Forward Policy, placing military outposts along the disputed border with China, beginning in 1959.

On October 20, 1962, China launched a simultaneous attack at two points 1000 kilometers apart along the disputed border with India. Nehru was caught off guard, and India suffered a series of military defeats. By November 21, China felt that it had made its point, and unilaterally ceased fire. It withdrew from its forward positions, leaving the division of land the same as before the war, except that India had been driven from its forward positions across the Line of Control.

India's force of 10,000 to 12,000 troops suffered heavy losses in the Sino-Indian War, with almost 1,400 killed, 1,700 missing, and nearly 4,000 captured by the Peoples Liberation Army of China. China lost 722 killed and about 1,700 wounded. The unexpected war and humiliating defeat profoundly depressed Prime Minister Nehru, and many historians claim that the shock may have hastened his death.

Nehru's Death

Nehru's party was reelected to the majority in 1962, but with smaller percentages of the vote than before. His health began to fail, and he spent a number of months in Kashmir during 1963 and 1964, trying to recuperate.

Nehru returned to Delhi in May of 1964, where he suffered a stroke and then a heart attack on the morning of May 27. He died that afternoon.

The Pandit's Legacy

Many observers expected Parliament member Indira Gandhi to succeed her father, even though he had voiced opposition to her serving as Prime Minister for fear of "dynastism." Indira turned down the post at that time, however, and Lal Bahadur Shastri took over as the second prime minister of India.

Indira would later become the third prime minister, and her son Rajiv was the sixth to hold that title. Jawaharlal Nehru left behind the world's largest democracy, a nation committed to neutrality in the Cold War , and a nation developing quickly in terms of education, technology and economics.

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Jawaharlal Nehru Biography: Early Life, Family, Education and Political Journey

Jawaharlal nehru's birthday is celebrated as children's day in india. he was born on 14 november 1889 in allahabad, uttar pradesh. he was the first prime minister of independent india and a leader of india's nationalist movement. here, we are providing a short biography on jawaharlal nehru depicting his early life, family, education, political journey, and works.    .

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was a leading figure in the Indian Independence struggle. He was the first Prime Minister of Independent India. He had initiated socio-economic policies of the idealistic socialist kind. He was a prolific writer and authored books such as 'The Discovery of India' and 'Glimpses of the World History'.

Jawaharlal Nehru was the father of Indira Gandhi, the first woman Prime Minister of India. He established a parliamentary government and is known for his nonaligned or neutralist policies in foreign affairs. He participated in India's Independence movement and was a principle leader in the 1930s and 40s.

Jawaharlal Nehru: Quick Facts

Born on: 14 November, 1889

Place of Birth: Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

Father's Name: Motilal Nehru

Mother's Name: Swarup Rani Nehru

Spouse: Kamala Nehru

Children: Indira Gandhi

Education: Harrow School, London; Trinity College, Cambridge; Inns of Court School of Law, London

Occupation: Barrister, Writer, and Politician

Political party: Indian National Congress

Political Ideology: Nationalism, Socialism, Democracy

Award: Bharat Ratna

Publications/Works: The Discovery of India, Glimpses of World History, Jawaharlal Nehru's Autobiography, Letters from a Father to his Daughter, etc.

Died: 27 May 1964

Place of Death: New Delhi

Cause of Death: Heart attack

Memorial: Shantivan, New Delhi

Jawaharlal Nehru: Early Life, Family, and Education

Jawaharlal Nehru was born in a Kashmiri Brahman family. His father Motilal Nehru was a renowned lawyer and leader of the Indian independence movement. He was also one of the prominent associates of Mahatma Gandhi. Jawaharlal Nehru was the eldest son of Motilal Nehru out of four children and two of whom were girls. He completed his early education until the age of 14 at home under private tutors. At the age of fifteen, he went to England at Harrow school. After two years, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge, and earned an honours degree in natural sciences. At the Inner Temple, London, he had completed his studies for a barrister.

He spent seven years in England but was very confused and always felt that he is in a half home neither in England nor in India. And so, he had written, "I have become a queer mixture of East and West, out of place everywhere, at home now where". He came back to India in around 1912. He had an interest in the struggle of all nations who suffered under foreign domination. In 1916, he married Kamala Kaul and settled in Delhi. In 1917, Indira Priyadarshini (Indira Gandhi) was born.

Jawaharlal Nehru: Political Journey

- He attended the Bankipore Congress as a delegate in 1912.

- In 1919, he became the Secretary of the Home Rule League, Allahabad.

- In 1916, the first time he met with Mahatma Gandhi , and was immensely inspired by him.

- In 1920, he organised the first Kisan March in the Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh.

- Due to the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22), he was imprisoned twice.

- In September 1923, he became the General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee.

- In 1926, he toured Italy, Switzerland, England, Belgium, Germany, and Russia.

- As an official delegate of the Indian National Congress, he had attended the Congress of oppressed Nationalities in Brussels in Belgium.

- In 1927, he attended the tenth-anniversary celebrations of the October Socialist Revolution in Moscow.

- During the Simon Commission in 1928, he was lathi-charged in Lucknow.

- He attended the All-Party Congress on 29 August 1928 and was one of the signatories to the Nehru Report on Indian Constitutional Reform that was named after his father Shri Motilal Nehru.

- In 1928, he founded the 'Independence for India League' and became its General Secretary.

- He was elected the President of the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress in 1929. In this session only, the complete goal for the independence of the country was adopted.

- During 1930-35, he was imprisoned several times, due to the connection with Salt Satyagraha and other movements launched by the Congress.

- On 14 February 1935, he had completed his 'Autobiography' in Almora Jail.

- After releasing from jail, he went to Switzerland to see his ailing wife.

- He was again arrested for offering an individual Satyagraha on 31 October, 1940 to protest against India's forced participation in the war.

- In December 1941, he was released from jail.

- At the 'All India Congress Committee' session in Bombay on 7 August, 1942, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru moved the 'Quit India' resolution.

- He was arrested with other leaders on 8 August, 1942 and taken to Ahmednagar Fort. This was the longest and his last detention.

- He was released from Jail in January 1945 and organised a legal defence for officers and men of the INA charged with treason.

- In July, 1946, for the fourth time, he was elected as the President of the Congress and again for three more terms from 1951 to 1954.

In this way, he became the first Prime Minister of independent India. He was the first Prime Minister to hoist the national flag and make his iconic speech "Tryst with Destiny" from the ramparts of the Lal Quilla (Red Fort).

Major works of Jawaharlal Nehru after becoming the Prime Minister of India

- He imparted modern values and thought.

- He insisted on the secular and liberalist approach.

- He focused on the basic unity of India.

- He advocated democratic socialism and encouraged India's industrialisation by implementing the first five-year plans in 1951.

- Promoted scientific and technological advancements by establishing higher learning.

- Also, instituted various social reforms like free public education, free meals for Indian children, legal rights for women including the ability to inherit property, divorce their husbands, laws to prohibit discrimination based on caste, etc.

Jawaharlal Nehru: Legacy

He believed in pluralism, socialism, liberalism, and democracy. He had an immense love for children and so, his birthday is celebrated as Children's Day in India. He supported and generated a way for India's education by envisioning the top tier institutions of India including the Indian Institute of Technology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences and India's first Space Program, etc.

Jawaharlal Nehru: Death

On 27 May 1964, he died due to a heart attack. He was cremated at the Shantivan on the banks of the Yamuna River in Delhi.

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Jawaharlal Nehru An Autobiography

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Book Source: Digital Library of India Item 2015.98834

dc.contributor.author: Nehru, Jawaharlal dc.date.accessioned: 2015-07-01T16:31:54Z dc.date.available: 2015-07-01T16:31:54Z dc.date.digitalpublicationdate: 2011-11-11 dc.date.citation: 1936 dc.identifier.barcode: 4990010058211 dc.identifier.origpath: /data8/upload/0255/494 dc.identifier.copyno: 1 dc.identifier.uri: http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/handle/2015/98834 dc.description.scanningcentre: C-DAK, Kolkata dc.description.main: 1 dc.description.tagged: 0 dc.description.totalpages: 636 dc.format.mimetype: application/pdf dc.language.iso: English dc.publisher.digitalrepublisher: Digital Library Of India dc.publisher: Oxford University Press, Delhi dc.rights: In Public Domain dc.source.library: Uttarpara Jaykrishna Public Library, Hooghly dc.subject.classification: Geography. Biography. History dc.subject.classification: Biography dc.subject.keywords: Communalism Rampant dc.subject.keywords: Theosophy dc.subject.keywords: Independence And After dc.subject.keywords: Prison Humours dc.subject.keywords: Democracy In East And West dc.title: Jawaharlal Nehru An Autobiography

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Jawaharlal Nehru

• Born November 14 , 1889 · Allahabad, North-Western Provinces, British India
• Died May 27 , 1964 · New Delhi, India (stroke)
• Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
• Chacha Nehru
• Height 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
• Jawaharlal Nehru was born on November 14, 1889, in Allahabad, India. He was the son of Swaroop Rani and Motilal Nehru, a wealthy lawyer and a prominent leader of the Indian independence movement. The Nehru family belonged to the saraswat Brahmin caste. Nehru graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge University and came back to India in 1912. In 1916, by his parents' arrangement, he married 17-year-old Kamala from a Kashmiri business family in Delhi. He became the top political leader of the Indian National Congress Party along with his mentor, Mohandas K. Gandhi . Nehru and his family made transformations in their upper class lifestyle. They followed Gandhi and abandoned fashionable British clothes and expensive possessions. Nehru and his family adopted the native language of Hindu, or Hindustani for their common use. Nehru also wore a khadi kurta and a Gandhi cap as an Indian nationalist uniform. When Nehru's father joined the Swaraj Party in opposition to Gandhi, Jawaharlal stayed with Gandhi. Together they led the nation of India to independence in 1947. Nehru signed the first constitution of independent India in 1949. He was an outstanding public speaker. He served as the first Prime Minister of India from 1947 until May 27, 1964, the day he died. He was one of the founders of the international non-aligned movement. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Steve Shelokhonov
• Jawaharlal Nehru was an Indian independence activist, and subsequently, the first Prime Minister of India and a central figure in Indian politics before and after independence. He emerged as an eminent leader of the Indian independence movement and served India as Prime Minister from its establishment as an independent nation in 1947 until his death in 1964. He has been described by the Amar Chitra Katha as the architect of India. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Tango Papa
• Spouse Kamala Kaul (February 8, 1916 - February 28, 1936) (her death, 1 child)
• Children Indira Gandhi
• Eloborative speeches at functions and rallies.
• First prime minister of independent India (1947-1964).
• His birthday (November 14) is celebrated as 'Children's Day' in India.
• Arrested by the British as a leader of India's fight for independence.
• Served a total of ten years in jail from 1921 to 1945.
• In prison he wrote "Glimpses of World History", a widely-read book.
• [address to India on the death of Mohandas K. Gandhi ] Friends and comrades, the light has gone out of our lives, and there is darkness everywhere. I do not know what to tell you and how to say it.
• [Aug. 16, 1947, on the eve of India's independence from Great Britain] At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.

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Remembering Pt Jawaharlal Nehru: Enduring impact of his expressive legacy

A s the first Prime Minister of independent India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru made a lasting impression with his inspirational speeches and innovative leadership. His straightforward language and rigour in crafting his sentences make them timeless. Nehru, who was born on November 14, a day since his death commemorated as Children`s Day in India, was an orator par excellence.

During India`s fight for independence, Nehru`s oratory prowess was a powerful instrument for inspiring the populace. He was a master of rhetoric, and his talks made difficult concepts understandable to listeners of different backgrounds. Nehru used British grammar, which showed that he had attended some of the best schools. His language was elegant and sophisticated.

Nehru`s "Tryst with Destiny" speech, delivered on the eve of India`s independence in 1947, is among his most famous remarks. "At the stroke of midnight, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom," he declared in this historic address. These precisely constructed sentences, written in British Grammar, encapsulated the spirit of a country on the verge of a momentous shift in history.

Nehru`s speeches were a call to action rather than just a list of words. His well-known "A Tryst with Destiny" speech motivated millions to work towards an affluent and united India. Nehru emphasised the importance of the occasion by projecting seriousness through his speeches.

Apart from his inspirational talks, Nehru possessed an ability to engage people with straightforward language. He was well-liked by the public because of his ability to explain difficult concepts in an understandable way. Nehru was a strong proponent of education and frequently stressed in his lectures the value of reasoned reasoning and a scientific temper in order to encourage curiosity and advancement.

Nehru`s lectures reflected his dedication to secularism and democratic principles, which helped India`s diverse populace feel more united. His well-known "Tryst with Destiny" speech, which he articulately delivered, demonstrated his strong belief in the democratic principles that will determine the course of the country.

Nehru`s words continue to inspire and guide, reminding us of the enduring power of eloquence in shaping the destiny of a nation.

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Biography of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru: Early Life, Legacy & Contributions

Biography of pt. jawaharlal nehru: early life, legacy & contributions.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Content  I. Introduction A. Early life and education of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru B. Nehru's role in Indian politics and contribution to Indian history II. Nehru's Political Career A. Nehru's involvement in the Indian National Congress 1. Nehru's leadership during the Indian Independence Movement 2. Nehru's role in the drafting of the Indian Constitution B. Nehru's tenure as India's first Prime Minister 1. Domestic policy initiatives during Nehru's tenure 2. Nehru's contributions to India's foreign policy and non-alignment III. Nehru's Ideology and Vision A. Nehru's socialist and secularist beliefs 1. Influence of Marxism and socialism on Nehru's ideology 2. Promotion of secularism and religious tolerance in India B. Nehru's economic policies and reforms 1. Introduction of the Five-Year Plans in India 2. Emphasis on industrialization and modernization C. Nehru's contribution to world peace and cooperation 1. Role in the Non-Aligned Movement 2. Nehru's international recognition as a statesman and world leader IV. Nehru's Legacy A. Nehru's impact on Indian Independence and nation-building 1. Nehru's role in India's freedom struggle against British rule 2. Nehru's contributions to India's nation-building and development B. Nehru's influence on Indian democracy and political culture 1. Nehru's contributions to India's democratic institutions 2. Nehru's impact on India's political culture and values C. Controversies and criticisms of Nehru's policies and leadership 1. Criticisms of Nehru's socialist and economic policies 2. Legacy of Nehru in contemporary India V. Personal life and Reflections A. Nehru's family and personal relationships 1. Nehru's marriage and family life 2. Nehru's relationship with his daughter Indira Gandhi B. Nehru's literary and intellectual pursuits 1. Nehru's authorship of books and writings 2. Nehru's interest in science and education C. Reflections on Nehru's life and legacy 1. Nehru's impact on Indian and world history 2. Nehru's relevance and significance in contemporary India VI. Conclusion A. Summary of Nehru's life and achievements B. Importance of Nehru's legacy for India and the world C. Lessons from Nehru's life and leadership VII. Children's Day ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. introduction, a. early life and education of pt jawaharlal nehru, b. nehru's role in indian politics and contribution to indian history.

Nehru's contributions to Indian history are numerous, including his role in the drafting of the Indian Constitution, which established India as a democratic republic. He also served as India's first Prime Minister from 1947 until his death in 1964. Nehru's tenure as Prime Minister was marked by significant domestic policy initiatives and his contributions to India's foreign policy, particularly his advocacy of non-alignment during the Cold War.

II. Nehru's Political Career

A. nehru's involvement in the indian national congress, 1. nehru's leadership during the indian independence movement.

Pt Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian Independence Movement. He was a staunch believer in the idea of Swaraj or self-rule and worked tirelessly towards achieving it. Nehru played a significant role in leading the Congress party and mobilizing the masses against the British colonial rule. He was instrumental in launching various campaigns, such as the Quit India Movement, which was one of the largest and most successful campaigns against the British rule.

2. Nehru's role in the drafting of the Indian Constitution

After India's independence in 1947, Nehru played a crucial role in drafting the Indian Constitution. He was appointed as the head of the Constituent Assembly's committee on the drafting of the Constitution. Nehru's vision for India's future was reflected in the Constitution, which enshrined the principles of democracy, secularism, and social justice. His leadership and contribution were essential in shaping India's political and legal framework, which continues to guide the country to this day.

B. Nehru's tenure as India's first Prime Minister

1. Domestic policy initiatives during Nehru's tenure

During Nehru's tenure as India's first Prime Minister, he implemented a number of domestic policy initiatives aimed at developing the country and improving the lives of its citizens. Some of the key initiatives included:

• Land reforms aimed at redistributing land to farmers
• Introduction of the Five-Year Plans to promote economic growth and development
• Creation of public sector industries to promote self-sufficiency and industrialization
• Investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure to improve the standard of living for all Indians
• Promotion of social welfare policies, such as the abolition of untouchability and the protection of minority rights

2. Nehru's contributions to India's foreign policy and non-alignment

In addition to his domestic policy initiatives, Nehru also made significant contributions to India's foreign policy during his tenure as Prime Minister. He was a strong advocate of non-alignment, which meant that India would remain neutral in the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. Some of Nehru's key contributions to India's foreign policy include:

• Promotion of the Panchsheel or Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence
• Active involvement in the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement
• Promotion of international cooperation and peaceful resolution of conflicts
• Strong stance against colonialism and imperialism

III. Nehru's Ideology and Vision

A. nehru's socialist and secularist beliefs.

Pt Jawaharlal Nehru was a socialist and secularist who believed in the principles of Marxism and socialism. His ideology was influenced by the ideas of Western liberal democracies, Indian nationalism, and the socialist movements of Europe.

1. Influence of Marxism and socialism on Nehru's ideology

Nehru was deeply influenced by Marxist and socialist ideas, and he believed in the concept of a planned economy. He was an advocate for state control of key industries and resources, and believed that this was necessary for the equitable distribution of wealth and resources in society.

2. Promotion of secularism and religious tolerance in India

Nehru was a strong proponent of secularism and religious tolerance in India. He believed that India's diversity of religions and cultures was a strength, and that it was important to promote a spirit of understanding and tolerance between different communities. Nehru's vision of a secular India was enshrined in the country's Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom to all its citizens.

B. Nehru's economic policies and reforms

1. introduction of the five-year plans in india.

Nehru's economic policies focused on promoting industrialization and modernization in India. To achieve this goal, he introduced a series of Five-Year Plans that aimed to increase agricultural and industrial production, improve infrastructure, and develop human resources. The First Five-Year Plan was launched in 1951 and focused on developing agriculture, building infrastructure, and expanding industries such as steel, cement, and machine tools. The subsequent plans focused on specific areas such as power generation, transport, and telecommunications, with the ultimate goal of making India a self-sufficient industrial economy.

2. Emphasis on industrialization and modernization

Nehru believed that industrialization was the key to India's economic growth and development. He placed great emphasis on building a strong industrial base, which he saw as critical to reducing poverty, unemployment, and economic inequality. To this end, he established a number of public sector enterprises in key sectors such as iron and steel, coal, power, and heavy machinery. Nehru's economic policies also encouraged foreign investment and technology transfer, particularly in the areas of heavy industry and infrastructure development. His vision of modernizing India's economy was centered on science and technology, and he established several scientific and research institutions to promote innovation and development.

Overall, Nehru's economic policies and reforms laid the foundation for India's rapid economic growth in the decades following independence. Although his policies were criticized for being too bureaucratic and restrictive, they succeeded in modernizing India's economy and laying the groundwork for future development.

C. Nehru's contribution to world peace and cooperation

C. Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, was known for his efforts towards promoting peace and cooperation at a global level. His contribution to world peace is particularly noteworthy in the following areas:

1. Role in the Non-Aligned Movement

Nehru played a crucial role in the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 1961, along with leaders from other countries like Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser, Yugoslavia's Josip Broz Tito, and Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah. NAM aimed to create a group of countries that did not align with either the Soviet Union or the United States during the Cold War, and instead advocated for an independent foreign policy. Nehru was a strong advocate of non-alignment and believed that it was essential for smaller nations to have a voice in global affairs.

2. Nehru's international recognition as a statesman and world leader

Nehru's contributions to world peace and cooperation were also recognized internationally, as he was widely regarded as a respected statesman and world leader. He was one of the founding members of the United Nations and served as India's representative to the UN for several years. He was also the first Asian leader to address the General Assembly of the UN in 1947. Nehru's leadership and advocacy for peace helped establish India as a key player in global politics and diplomacy.

IV. Nehru's Legacy

A. nehru's impact on indian independence and nation-building.

India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru played a pivotal role in India's struggle for freedom from British colonial rule. He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and was deeply influenced by his ideas of non-violence and civil disobedience. Nehru was an ardent nationalist who worked tirelessly to unite the diverse groups and communities of India to fight for their independence.

After India gained independence in 1947, Nehru played a key role in shaping the country's future. He emphasized the importance of building a strong and modern nation that would provide equal opportunities and rights for all its citizens. Nehru's vision for India was based on the principles of democracy, socialism, and secularism.

1. Nehru's role in India's freedom struggle against British rule

Nehru was a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress, which was at the forefront of the freedom struggle against British colonial rule. He participated in numerous non-violent protests and civil disobedience movements, including the Salt Satyagraha in 1930 and the Quit India Movement in 1942. Nehru spent several years in British jails for his participation in these movements.

2. Nehru's contributions to India's nation-building and development

As India's first Prime Minister, Nehru laid the foundation for the country's economic, social, and political development. He introduced a series of policies and reforms aimed at modernizing the country and reducing poverty. One of his major initiatives was the launch of the Five-Year Plans, which focused on industrialization and modernization.

Under Nehru's leadership, India made significant progress in various sectors, including agriculture, education, healthcare, and science and technology. He also placed a strong emphasis on promoting secularism and religious tolerance in the country, which helped to strengthen India's democratic and pluralistic ethos.

Nehru's legacy continues to inspire generations of Indians and people around the world. His vision of a modern, democratic, and secular India remains relevant and inspiring, and his contributions to India's freedom struggle and nation-building continue to be celebrated.

B. Nehru's Influence on Indian Democracy and Political Culture

1. nehru's contributions to india's democratic institutions, a. development of a constitution, b. establishment of the election commission, c. promotion of women's rights, 2. nehru's impact on india's political culture and values, a. promotion of secularism, b. emphasis on social justice, c. legacy of democratic values, c. controversies and criticisms of nehru's policies and leadership, 1. criticisms of nehru's socialist and economic policies.

While Nehru's socialist economic policies aimed to reduce poverty and promote economic growth, they were also criticized for their inefficiency and lack of productivity. Some critics argue that the state-led approach to development favored large public sector enterprises at the expense of small businesses and entrepreneurship.

Additionally, some have criticized Nehru's economic policies for not adequately addressing issues of land reform and rural development, leading to continued poverty and inequality in rural areas.

2. Legacy of Nehru in contemporary India

Nehru's legacy in contemporary India is complex and multifaceted. While he is widely regarded as a national hero for his contributions to Indian independence and nation-building, his policies and leadership have also faced criticism.

Some argue that Nehru's socialist policies have hindered India's economic growth and development, while others credit him with laying the groundwork for India's economic success in the decades since independence.

Despite these controversies and criticisms, Nehru remains an important figure in Indian history and his contributions to Indian democracy, nation-building, and international relations continue to be celebrated and debated today.

V. Personal life and Reflections

A. nehru's family and personal relationships.

1. Nehru's marriage and family life

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, was married to Kamala Nehru. They had a daughter, Indira Gandhi, who went on to become India's first female Prime Minister. Kamala Nehru played an important role in the Indian freedom struggle and was an active member of the Indian National Congress. She died at a young age due to tuberculosis, leaving Nehru devastated. After her death, Nehru raised their daughter Indira on his own.

2. Nehru's relationship with his daughter Indira Gandhi

Nehru had a close relationship with his daughter Indira Gandhi, who was his political protégé. He had a significant influence on her political career, which began with her appointment as the President of the Indian National Congress in 1959. After Nehru's death, Indira Gandhi went on to become India's Prime Minister and played a key role in shaping India's political and economic landscape.

Nehru's personal life was often overshadowed by his political career, but his family and personal relationships played an important role in shaping his character and values. His love for his wife Kamala and his close relationship with his daughter Indira Gandhi are a testament to his commitment to family and his belief in the importance of personal relationships.

B. Nehru's literary and intellectual pursuits

1. nehru's authorship of books and writings.

Nehru was a prolific writer and author who penned several books and articles on a range of topics, including politics, history, and culture. His most famous work, "The Discovery of India," is a comprehensive account of India's rich cultural heritage, history, and identity. Nehru's other notable works include "Glimpses of World History," "Letters from a Father to His Daughter," and "An Autobiography." His writings reflect his deep knowledge and understanding of India's complex history and diverse cultural traditions, as well as his vision for a modern and progressive India.

2. Nehru's interest in science and education

Nehru was a firm believer in the power of education and science to transform society and promote progress. He established several educational and scientific institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), to promote excellence in education and research. Nehru was also a strong advocate of scientific temper and rational thinking, which he believed were essential for India's development and progress. He once famously remarked, "The future belongs to science and those who make friends with science."

Nehru's literary and intellectual pursuits were an integral part of his personality and vision for India. His writings and ideas continue to inspire generations of Indians and serve as a testament to his enduring legacy.

VI. Conclusion

A. summary of nehru's life and achievements.

Pt Jawaharlal Nehru was a prominent Indian politician, statesman, and freedom fighter who played a key role in India's struggle for independence from British rule. He served as India's first Prime Minister from 1947 to 1964 and is widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of modern India.

Throughout his life, Nehru remained committed to his socialist and secularist beliefs, advocating for economic and social reforms, religious tolerance, and peace and cooperation among nations. He was a prolific writer and author, and his books and writings continue to be widely read and influential today.

B. Importance of Nehru's legacy for India and the world

Nehru's legacy is an integral part of India's history and identity, and his contributions to the country's nation-building, democracy, and development are widely recognized and celebrated. His vision and ideas continue to shape India's political and cultural landscape, and his leadership and statesmanship continue to inspire generations of leaders and citizens around the world.

Nehru's commitment to democracy, secularism, and socialism also remain relevant and important in today's world, as countries continue to grapple with issues of economic inequality, religious intolerance, and political polarization. His emphasis on peace, cooperation, and non-alignment also offers valuable lessons for countries in today's globalized and interconnected world.

C. Lessons from Nehru's life and leadership

Nehru's life and leadership offer several important lessons for leaders and citizens alike. His commitment to democracy, secularism, and socialism serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting and promoting the rights and welfare of all citizens, regardless of their religion, caste, or economic status.

His leadership during India's struggle for independence and his contributions to the country's nation-building and development offer valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of building a new nation and society. His emphasis on education, scientific temper, and innovation also underscores the importance of investing in human capital and technology for economic growth and development.

Finally, Nehru's emphasis on peace, cooperation, and non-alignment serves as a reminder of the importance of diplomacy and dialogue in resolving conflicts and building a more just and peaceful world.

VII. Children's Day

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Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru

Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was born in Allabahad on November 14, 1889. He received his early education at home under private tutors. At the age of fifteen, he went to England and after two years at Harrow, joined Cambridge University where he took his tripos in Natural Sciences. He was later called to the Bar from Inner Temple. He returned to India in 1912 and plunged straight into politics. Even as a student, he had been interested in the struggle of all nations who suffered under foreign domination. He took keen interest in the Sinn Fein Movement in Ireland. In India, he was inevitably drawn into the struggle for independence.

In 1912, he attended the Bankipore Congress as a delegate, and became Secretary of the Home Rule League, Allahabad in 1919. In 1916 he had his first meeting with Mahatma Gandhi and felt immensely inspired by him. He organised the first Kisan March in Pratapgarh District of Uttar Pradesh in 1920. He was twice imprisoned in connection with the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920-22.

Pt. Nehru became the General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee in September 1923. He toured Italy, Switzerland, England, Belgium, Germany and Russia in 1926. In Belgium, he attended the Congress of Oppressed Nationalities in Brussels as an official delegate of the Indian National Congress. He also attended the tenth anniversary celebrations of the October Socialist Revolution in Moscow in 1927. Earlier, in 1926, at the Madras Congress, Nehru had been instrumental in committing the Congress to the goal of Independence. While leading a procession against the Simon commission, he was lathi-charged in Lucknow in 1928. On August 29, 1928 he attended the All-Party Congress and was one of the signatories to the Nehru Report on Indian Constitutional Reform, named after his father Shri Motilal Nehru. The same year, he also founded the ‘Independence for India League’, which advocated complete severance of the British connection with India, and became its General Secretary.

In 1929, Pt. Nehru was elected President of the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress, where complete independence for the country was adopted as the goal. He was imprisoned several times during 1930-35 in connection with the Salt Satyagraha and other movements launched by the Congress. He completed his ‘Autobiography’ in Almora Jail on February 14, 1935. After release, he flew to Switzerland to see his ailing wife and visited London in February-March, 1936. He also visited Spain in July 1938, when the country was in the throws of Civil War. Just before the court-break of the Second World War, he visited China too.

On October 31, 1940 Pt. Nehru was arrested for offering individual Satyagraha to protest against India’s forced participation in war. He was released along with the other leaders in December 1941. On August 7, 1942 Pt. Nehru moved the historic ‘Quit India’ resolution at the A.I.C.C. session in Bombay. On August 8,1942 he was arrested along with other leaders and taken to Ahmednagar Fort. This was his longest and also his last detention. In all, he suffered imprisonment nine times. After his release in January 1945, he organized legal defence for those officers and men of the INA charged with treason. In March 1946, Pt. Nehru toured South East Asia. He was elected President of the Congress for the fourth time on July 6, 1946 and again for three more terms from 1951 to 1954.

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