Jawaharlal Nehru: Biography, NAM, Nation Building, Religion and Legacy
Date: 26 May, 2020
By: Dharmendra Yadav
By: Dharmendra Yadav
Early Life and achievement of Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru was born on 14 November 1889 Allahabad. He is known as Chacha Nehru (Uncle Nehru). He was a reformer, diplomat, eminent leader and famous personality in the Indian freedom movement later he became the first Prime Minister of independent India and served the country till 1964. He was the son of a famous lawyer in British India Motilal Nehru and Swaroop Rani was Nehru's mother. He was from a rich family, admitted to Harrow school London, graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge and finally gets a degree in Barrister – in – law from the inner temple.
Jawaharlal Nehru was the architect of modern India.
[Image Source: Wikipedia]
He joined Congress movement become head of it many times and Gandhi described him as his heir and successor. Nehru had good leadership quality and was influential in writing and speaking. He was a firm believer in democracy and socialist idea, introduced Universal Adult suffrage so that people can exercise their rights in electing the government.
In the midnight of 14th August 1947, he gave a speech which is very famous "Tryst with Destiny" and was delivered in the constituent assembly in the Parliament on the occasion of independence of the country from Britain. Nehru was a prolific writer and authored books like Discovery of India, Glimpses of World History and his autobiography towards freedom. In the year 1955, he was given Bharat Ratna, highest civilian award for his contribution in nation-building.
Jawaharlal Nehru as a Democratic Socialist
Jawaharlal Nehru took interest in Socialism from a very early age in his life. During his college days, he was much attracted by the idea of Socialism. In the Lahore session of Congress in December 1929, he took a bold step to declare, "I must frankly confess that I am a socialist - - - - - - - - - - - we must realise that the philosophy of socialism had gradually permeated the entire structure of the society the world over and almost the only points in dispute are the pace and the methods of advance to its full realisation. India will have to go that way, too, if she seeks to end her poverty and inequality, through she may evolve her methods and may adopt the ideal to the genius of her race." Through democratic Socialist policy ending of poverty, vast unemployment could be achieved. The degradation and subjection of Indian population need revolutionary changes in our political and social structure, ending of vested interest in the land and industry.
Socialism for Nehru became a tool of economic and social justice. He quotes, "Socialism is thus for me not merely an economic doctrine which I favour; it is a vital creed which I hold with all my hand and heart. I work for Indian independence because the nationalist in me cannot tolerate alien; domination I work for it even more because for me it is the inevitable step to social and economic change. I should like the Congress to become a Socialist organization."
In his idea of Democratic Socialism, he talks of giving equal liberty and freedom to every individual despite their background. An individual can have freedom for enterprise and possession of the private property on a restricted scale. He believed that democracy and socialism could co-exist together for peace and development. Nehru was among major architect of 'five-year plan' influenced on the pattern of Soviet Russia to end poverty and development India could be achieved freely. Under his leadership oppressive Zamindari system was abolished, land reforms were organised and industries were nationalised. Also, he categorically declared, "No democracy can exist for long in the midst of want and poverty and Inequality." He was a great supporter of democracy but democracy without Socialism meant little to him. In December 1954, He spoke in Lok Sabha: The pattern of society that we look forward to is a Socialist pattern of society which is casteless and classless.
He took Herculean task to improve literacy in India through investing in primary and Higher education, removing the poverty by Socialist measures which were based on the principle of benefit to all.
Jawaharlal Nehru and NAM
Nehru promoted "Non-Alignment" and "Panchsheel". This became a world movement with the help of famous personalities like Sukarno, Tito, Nasser, and Nkurumah at an international conference in New Delhi, Bandung and Belgrade. They altogether led the foundation of the Non-Alignment Movement. This movement was established in Belgrade in 1961 agreeing on the principle of Bandung conference in 1955.
The concept of Non – Alignment came after the Second World War, under the dynamic leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru. He adopted non-alignment as the basic principle and sovereign identity of India's foreign policy. During the cold war period, foreign policies of the countries mostly moulded towards either Communism (USSR) or Capitalism (Europe and USA). NAM consists of the country mostly from Asia, Africa and Latin America, those recently freed from the grip of colonialism. He defined foreign policy of India as a policy of not entering into military alliances with any of the power blocks.
He addresses the Constituent Assembly on September 7, 1946, as
"We propose as far as possible, to keep away from the politics of groups, aligned against one another, which have led in the past to the ways and which may again lead to disasters on an even faster scale. We believe that peace and freedom are invisible and that the denied of freedom anywhere must endanger freedom elsewhere and lead to conflict and war, we are particularly interested in the emancipation of colonial dependent countries and peoples………. And equal opportunities for all peoples."
"We propose as far as possible, to keep away from the politics of groups, aligned against one another, which have led in the past to the ways and which may again lead to disasters on an even faster scale. We believe that peace and freedom are invisible and that the denied of freedom anywhere must endanger freedom elsewhere and lead to conflict and war, we are particularly interested in the emancipation of colonial dependent countries and peoples………. And equal opportunities for all peoples."
Jawaharlal Nehru on Human Rights
Human rights are those fundamental and inalienable rights which are essential for life as a human being and are possessed by all human beings by virtue of being human. In 1789 the French Declaration of Rights of Men and citizen asserted, "Men are born and remain drew at equal in rights." Indeed that "purpose of all political association in the conservation of natural and inalienable rights of men" –these rights are liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression. "These are held to be universal not only to French citizen but to all men without exception."
Jawaharlal Nehru was very much sensitive and concerned about the suffering of people and violation of their human dignity, since his childhood, he witnessed the insulting of the Indian population by British Masters and it's our duty and primary responsibility to rise against the masters. At Harrow School in London, he went through volumes of Garibaldi (Italian General, patriot and Republican) which led to a feeling of 'we' and should fight against British for our liberation and independence. He was influenced by British Humanist tradition which was based on reason and supremacy of individual and rational norm.
He admired the role of Gandhi and attracted by Buddha's doctrine on rational ethics. Under the guidance of Gandhi, he started working for the liberation of the country from the British hand.
As he writes in Discovery of India, "The initial urge came to me, I suppose, through pride, both individual and national, and the desire, common to all men, to resist domination and have the freedom to live the life of our choice."
As he writes in Discovery of India, "The initial urge came to me, I suppose, through pride, both individual and national, and the desire, common to all men, to resist domination and have the freedom to live the life of our choice."
As he writes in Discovery of India, "The initial urge came to me, I suppose, through pride, both individual and national, and the desire, common to all men, to resist domination and have the freedom to live the life of our choice."
For him rights should be based on the philosophy of individualism where they can decide their own fate, what's good and bad for them, they should be autonomous individuals. He argues that no individual is to be thrown on the rubbish heap because in the process of nation-building every individual must be respected so that they can add in the development of the nation as a whole. He maintained that when the interests of individuals are made secondary to the state, it would be followed by a reduction in the rights of a citizen under any political system.
For him rights should be based on the philosophy of individualism where they can decide their own fate, what's good and bad for them, they should be autonomous individuals. He argues that no individual is to be thrown on the rubbish heap because in the process of nation-building every individual must be respected so that they can add in the development of the nation as a whole. He maintained that when the interests of individuals are made secondary to the state, it would be followed by a reduction in the rights of a citizen under any political system.
For him, basic human rights were to get freedom from outsiders and establish our own rule of law which could protect individuals their political freedom, social freedom and economic freedom. Nehru linked human rights with justice and stability in the world. One may find a similar expression in the preamble of UDHRC (The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Council), where it is said,
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity of the equal and Inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the World.
Jawaharlal Nehru not only advocated the rights of Indians but for the people all over the world, as he considered human rights as a prerequisite for the development of men.
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity of the equal and Inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the World.
Jawaharlal Nehru not only advocated the rights of Indians but for the people all over the world, as he considered human rights as a prerequisite for the development of men.
Jawaharlal on Religion and Secularism
According to Nehru, the basic characteristics of Secularism are that the state should not promise any religion and there will be no official religion of the state. There will no interference in the religious matter from the state unless it's a violation of basic human rights. The state will not fund for the promotion of any particular religion.
To quote him:
"Communalism, of course, has to fight ruthlessly and suppressed. But I do not think it is such power as it is made to be. It may be giant today but it has feet of clay. It is the outcome of large anger and passion and when we regain our tempers it will fade to nothingness. It is a myth with no connection with reality and it cannot be endured. It is the creation of our educated class in search of office and employment."
"Communalism, of course, has to fight ruthlessly and suppressed. But I do not think it is such power as it is made to be. It may be giant today but it has feet of clay. It is the outcome of large anger and passion and when we regain our tempers it will fade to nothingness. It is a myth with no connection with reality and it cannot be endured. It is the creation of our educated class in search of office and employment."
For him Secularism was the most important tool to take the formidable problems facing India, radical social changes were essential, required political and emotional integration, the involvement of every section of the society in the nation-building process and modernisation of the society, polity and economy. He was adamant that the state pursues a policy of neutrality towards all religions but at the same time act as the agent and instrument of Public welfare and social advancement, putting his total faith in Constitution of India.
His idea of Secularism hives every community to freedom of their religion, propagate and promotion of their teachings but not converting people from other belief for mere allurement which is unacceptable and against the ethics of any religion.
Jawaharlal Nehru and Modernity
For Jawaharlal Nehru Modernity was always an amalgam of old and new, Synthesis of past and present, getting away from the religious and cultural superstition. Developing scientific temperament is the basic motive of Modernity. He inherited a nation of 370 million mostly poor people. The country's economy was in degrading and its share of world wealth had fallen from 30% in the eighteenth century to less than 3% when the British left in 1947.
His efforts to modernize the nation were not to westernize it but to develop it into a powerhouse by assimilating the best facets of Western culture. Modernisation of the industry was most important for him. Under State, control industries could lead to vast and enormous availability of jobs. He called 'Temples of Modern India' too big industries, steel and copper industries, and dams for the production of electricity on large volume as they were based on scientific research which could ultimately lead to the development of the nation.
He always focused on science education as a primary force to make a good and just society.
He always focused on science education as a primary force to make a good and just society.
Jawaharlal Nehru's Death and his Contribution
Jawaharlal was the architect of modern India. He dedicated his full life in liberation and nation-building, recognition of India at an international level, fighting with poverty, unemployment and religious superstition. His modern idea was full of toleration, respecting minority and feeling of brotherhood for all.
Lakhan Lal Malhotra once said, "Nehru had travelled not miles but centuries before he went to sleep, he lit the torch of freedom and peace, equality and justice in some of the darkest corners of the earth. In some measure, he had helped to achieve the ancient ideal of "vasudhaiva kutumbakam" - of the world being a family."
He died due to serious heart attack on 27 may, 1964 New Delhi at the age of 74 leaving his legacy for a successor to serve the nation. His farsightedness for the growth of the nation has a stronghold like its people. He always wanted India to be a "casteless and classless society."
To mark great respect for him Indian celebrates his birthday 14 November as children's day to spread awareness about rights and care for children.
To mark great respect for him Indian celebrates his birthday 14 November as children's day to spread awareness about rights and care for children.
