Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru went into the wedlock with Kamala Kaul in 1916. His only daughter, Indira Priyadarshini Nehru (later Gandhi) went on to become the first woman Prime Minister of the country.

Nehru’s health started deteriorating in the early 1960s. Though he did spend some time recuperating in Kashmir, but it did not help much.

Nehru left for the heavenly abode on May 27, 1964. His body was cremated as per Hindu rites at Shantivan, on the banks of the Yamuna River. Thousands of Indians flocked to Delhi to mourn his death.

Jawaharlal Nehru was born to Motilal Nehru and Swarup Rani in Allahabad in British India. He was the first of the three children of the couple; other two were Vijaya Lakhsmi and Krishna Huthseeing.

His father was a barrister and was actively involved in the Indian independence movement and served as the President of the Indian National Congress twice.

Nehru received most of his primary education at home with the help of several tutors and governess. It was Ferdinand Brooks who was responsible for young Nehru’s indulgence and interest in science and theology. However, the same did not last long and his interest wavered after the departure of Brooks.

At the age of 16, Nehru was enrolled at the Harrow School in England after which he got admission at the Trinity College, Cambridge, where he earned his honors degree in natural science.

With his education graph was going steady, he also started developing the sense of nationalism. Writers like G. M. Trevelyan, Bernard Shaw, H.G Wells and J.M. Keynes shaped much of his political and economic thinking.

Though Nehru wasn’t exactly convinced with the functioning of the Indian National Congress, which was dominated by the English-knowing upper class elite, yet he participated in the civil rights campaign initiated by Gandhi.

With his radical political views, Nehru condemned the Indian Civil Service (ICS) for its support of British policies. The slow pace of the nationalist movement further irked Nehru who joined hands with the aggressive nationalist leaders, demanding Home Rule for Indians. Though he contributed both for Besant and Tilak league, his contribution was greater for the former.

Nehru argued for self-government and status of a Dominion within the British Empire as enjoyed by Australia, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Newfoundland.

It was in 1916 that Nehru first met Gandhi, a relationship that turned to be one of a lifetime for the two. With Gandhi as his mentor, Nehru rose to prominence in the National Congress so much so that he was elected to the post of the general secretary of the Congress.

Nehru not only contributed greatly to the national movement in India but also gave the freedom struggle an international outlook in 1927, when he attended the congress of oppressed nationalities in Brussels in Belgium

Nehru was appointed the head of the interim government. Though he made numerous attempts to convince the British of not dividing the country but Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s powerful opposition, communal violence and political disorder forced him to reluctantly accept the same. Pakistan was formed on August 14, 1947 and Nehru became the first Prime Minister of independent India.

Nehru propelled India towards modern age of technological advancements and innovations. Furthermore, Nehru greatly professed democratic value and equality for all, irrespective of caste, color or creed.

Nehru, during his term as the Prime Minister, brought forward radical changes in domestic, international, economic, agricultural and social policies.

Under his administration, he established numerous basic and heavy industries, which he believed were fundamental for Indian economy to take a step forward towards development and modernization. He advocated for a mixed economy where government controlled public sector co-existed peacefully with the private sector.

A passionate advocate of education, Nehru believed that educating the young India was imperative for the country’s future growth. For the same, he established numerous institutions of higher learning, including All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the Indian Institutes of Technology, the Indian Institutes of Management and the National Institutes of Technology. He even included free and compulsory primary education to all children in his five-year plan.