Jawaharlal Nehru:
India has given birth to many great leaders. There are many who have immortalized themselves through their noble deeds. Jawaharlal Nehru needs special mention. If Mahatma Gandhi is the Father of the Indian Nation, Jawaharlal Nehru is the architect of modern India.
He was the first Prime Minister of free India. He remained so until his death on May 27, 1964. He was much respected and admired not only in the country but also in the whole world. No other Indian leader influenced domestic and international politics as much as Nehru did. He had a charming personality with a sober, rational and commonsense approach to world problems. That is why people admire him the most.
He was born on November 14, 1889. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. His father, Sh Motilal Nehru was a leading lawyer. He was brought up like a prince. He was sent to England for education. He got his degree in Law from England and returned to India as a Barrister.
He was impressed very much by Mahatma Gandhi. He became a fearless soldier of the freedom struggle. He spent the best part of his life in jails. He joined Mahatma Gandhi and started endless non-violent campaigns against British rule in India. More than any other leader, he impressed Mahatma Gandhi the most.
He had faith in most of the principles advocated by Mahatma Gandhi. Like Gandhiji, he believed in the right means. So, he became the greatest apostle of peace in the world. As the Prime Minister of free India, he worked for peace. But he received a crude shock when China attacked India in September 1962. India pleaded for China in the World. But China stabbed India in the back.
Nehru was a great soldier of freedom. Independence meant only internal independence. Independence in the world can be realized only if India keeps away from the power blocs. To achieve independence in the international sphere, Nehru launched a Non-aligned movement. By following this policy, India could take independent decisions on international issues. If we are tied to a bloc, we cannot take our independent decisions. The non-aligned movement started by him has spread to more than a hundred countries of the world.
It was under his presidentship of the Congress that Independence Resolution was passed at Lahore Session on January 26, 1929. He was the author of ‘Quit India Resolution’. He was born rich but he was thoroughly a socialist. He stood for the poor and the down-trodden.
He shaped India’s history. It is under his leadership that India has achieved so much progress. India has become self-sufficient in food. He took a keen interest in industrialization. He established steel plants with foreign help. He started five-year plans. In fact, he fought against hunger, poverty, disease and unemployment.
He was secular in the true sense. He worshipped humanity. He never thought in terms of religion. Still, he was the most religious man. He never worshipped God. But, he worshipped the creatures of God. He worked tirelessly to establish peace and bring prosperity to them.
He was also the author of many great books such as ‘My Autobiography’, ‘The Discover of India’ and ‘The Glimpses of Wolrd History”.
