Early life
Nehru had a very rich educational background. He did his schooling and graduation from the best colleges and emerged as a barrister. He went to Harrow in 1905 where he stayed for two years. He then migrated to Trinity College, Cambridge where he earned an honours degree in natural science. His quest for knowledge did not end here. He further enrolled at the Inner Temple, London for two years where he qualified as a barrister. He came back to India in August 1912, and started practicing law in Allahabad High Court. He was inclined to the politics, which later converted him into a popular leader in Indian politics. He married a woman named Kamala Kaul in 1916 and they had a daughter in the following year. She was named Indira. Nehru took his first real step towards Indian politics in 1919 after he came in contact with Mahatma Gandhi and became an active participant and follower in all the freedom movements like Civil Disobedience Movement, campaign against the Rowlatt Act etc.
Contribution to struggle of independence
Nehru was always influenced by politics. There were series of events that led Nehru to meddle in Indian politics and emerge as an influential leader. In 1917, Annie Besant was arrested which motivated Nehru to join All India Home Rule League which was establishes with an agenda of self governance under British Rule. Further in April 1919, legislation was passed that gave the British rulers the right to detain any suspected political foe without trial. Thousands of civilians came forward to protest against this rule and in return British troop’s opened-fire on the unarmed civilians. Nehru’s desire to get involved in Indian politics strengthened after the Amritsar massacre commonly known as Jallianwala Bagh tragedy. On the auspicious occasion of Baisakhi (13th April 1919), people gathered in the Bagh were fired upon by British troops on the command of Colonel Reginald Dyer. This tragedy flamed the inner fire of Nehru turning the barrister into a leader.
Non-cooperation movement
Non-Cooperation Movement was launched under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi (1920-1922) as a comeback against the Amritsar massacre. Nehru took the lead of the movement in the United Provinces, now called Uttar Pradesh. The motive of this movement was to boycott British goods and to increase the usage of Indian products. Nehru was imprisoned for the first time during this movement in 1921 on the charges of planning activities that were a theft for government. He was released after few months. The movement was called off after the Chauri-Chaura incident. Nehru proved his loyalty towards Gandhi by refusing to join the Swaraj Party led by his own father.
Civil disobedience movement
This movement was also launched under the leadership of Gandhi. It started with the Dandi March where Mahatma Gandhi and his followers marched from Sabarmati ashram to Dandi and violated the salt law. In 1929, Nehru was elected as the President of Indian National Congress, his first recognised role in Indian politics. He endorsed the idea of Purna Swaraj or complete independence from British rule.
World War II and the quit India movement
Without the consent of Indian leaders, British government proclaimed the participation of India in the World War II against Germany. In 1942, Congress passed the Quit India resolution which stated that India will help British in the war only if they promise to relinquish their rule over India but instead of agreeing to the demand British government arrested many Indian leaders including Gandhi and Nehru. On an average, Nehru spent almost 9 years in jail although the freedom movement.
First prime minister of India
India emerged as an independent nation on 15th August 1947 and Nehru became the first Prime Minister of the independent India. India was in a very crucial position due to number of changes that were happening. First the partition of India and Pakistan and the dispute over controlling Kashmir affected lives and property of people. Nehru skilfully took hold over the entire situation and became the chief architect in the designing of new India. Under his leadership, overall development of India in terms of education, productivity, technological advancements, centres for higher learning, scientific researches etc. He also brought social reforms like rights for women that included right to inherit and divorce. There were reforms to save the people being tortured under caste discrimination. In spite of his failure during Sino-Indian conflict; he is remembered with great respect for all the other contributions he made in the construction of new India. He died on May 27, 1964.
Legacy
Jawaharlal Nehru played a significant role in shaping the governance and political culture. Both as India’s first Prime Minister and external affairs mister, he crafted modern governance with sound foreign policy.
Indian always faced problems on regional diversity, but Nehru appreciated the diversity and stressed to implement policies to unite Indians and find commonality. Even after his constant efforts on implementing policies to unite citizens of the country, the differences of culture and, especially, language threatened the unity of the new nation. To combat such situation, Nehru founded programs such as the National Book Trust and the National Literary Academy which professed the translation of regional literatures between languages. He promoted to transfer materials between regions.
Some people state that government today is least influenced by Nehru’s ideals. But, it still remains a fact that his ideals greatly influenced national leaders during the struggle of independence and based on his ideologies, the foundations of modern, democratic, and secular republic were laid.
6 interesting facts about Jawaharlal Nehru
1.Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru penned down his autobiography “Towards Freedom” when he was in prison from June 1934 to February 1935.It was published in the USA in 1936.
- Pundit Nehru is called the architect of Modern India. He launched policies for economic development with insistence on heavy industries and multipurpose projects. During his tenure, he established major industries, dams and steel plants in the country by securing funds from both the best and the Soviet Union.
- Nehru attempted to persuade Portuguese to vacate Goa, but his attempts failed. He then ordered the Armed Forces to liberate the colony. In December 1961, Goa became part of India.
- Nehru wore a khadi jacket to boycott British goods and promote Swadeshi Movement. He took this attire to eschew the Western wardrobe. He used to adorn his jacket’s front pocket with red rose. The khadi jacket is named Nehru jacket and is usually worn by many Indian politicians.
- Nehru spent his childhood days and grew up in Anand Bhawan, constructed by his father Motilal Nehru in 1930.It was transformed into the local headquarters of Indian National Congress. Indira Gandhi, daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru and then Prime Minister, donated Nehru residence to government and developed it as Planetarium.
6.”Teen Murti Bhawan”, the Delhi residence of Jawaharlal Nehru was turned to “Nehru Memorial Museum and library.
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