Jawaharlal Nehru, a towering figure in the history of modern India, was born on November 14, 1889, in Allahabad. His early education took place within the confines of his home, under the guidance of private tutors. At the age of fifteen, Nehru embarked on a transformative journey to England. Following two years at Harrow, he enrolled at Cambridge University, eventually obtaining his tripos in Natural Sciences. Subsequently, he was call to the Bar from Inner Temple.
The seed of Nehru political activism were sown early in his life. His interest in the struggl of nation under foreign domination was kind during his student year. This passion led him to actively participate in the Sinn Fein Movement in Ireland. However, his heart and soul were inexorably drawn towards the Indian independence movement upon his return to the homeland in 1912.
Nehru’s political journey gained momentum when he attended the Bankipore Congress in 1912 as a delegate. By 1919, he had become the Secretary of the Home Rule League in Allahabad. The turning point in his political career came in 1916 when he first encountered Mahatma Gandhi, an encounter that left an indelible mark on Nehru’s ideology. Inspired by Gandhi, he organized the first Kisan March in the Pratapgarh District of Uttar Pradesh in 1920, marking his commitment to the cause of India’s independence.
The years 1920-22 witnessed Nehru’s active involvement in the Non-Cooperation Movement, resulting in two imprisonments. He assumed the role of General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee in September 1923. Nehru’s international exposure expanded as he toured European countries, attending conferences and congresses that addressed the plight of oppressed nationalities.
In 1926, at the Madras Congress, Nehru played a pivotal role in steering the Congress towards the goal of complete independence. The following year, he founded the ‘Independence for India League,’ advocating the severance of British ties with India. In 1928, he signed the Nehru Report on Indian Constitutional Reform, named after his father, Motilal Nehru. Simultaneously, Nehru continued to actively participate in protests, such as the procession against the Simon Commission in Lucknow.
The year 1929 marked Nehru’s election as the President of the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress, where the adoption of complete independence as the national goal took center stage. Subsequent years saw his imprisonment multiple times during various movements, including the Salt Satyagraha. Nehru utilized his time in Almora Jail to pen down his ‘Autobiography,’ completing it on February 14, 1935.
Post-release, Nehru undertook international travels, visiting Switzerland and London in 1936 and Spain in 1938 during its Civil War. As the clouds of the Second World War gathered, he also visited China. Nehru’s commitment to India’s freedom remained unwavering; he was arrested in 1940 for an individual Satyagraha against India’s forced participation in the war.
August 7, 1942, witnessed Nehru’s historic move as he proposed the ‘Quit India’ resolution at the A.I.C.C. session in Bombay. Subsequently, he was arrested, along with other leaders, and incarcerated in Ahmednagar Fort. This marked his longest and final detention, summing up a total of nine imprisonments in his lifetime. After his release in January 1945, Nehru played a crucial role in organizing the legal defense for the officers and men of the Indian National Army charged with treason.
In March 1946, Nehru embarked on a tour of South East Asia, showcasing his commitment to fostering diplomatic ties. His political journey within the Congress continu as he was elect President four time – in 1946, 1951, 1952, and 1954.
The culmination of Nehru’s relentless efforts and sacrifices occurred on August 15, 1947, when India gained independence. Jawaharlal Nehru, affectionately known as Pandit Nehru, became the nation’s first Prime Minister. His leadership was mark by a vision for a modern, secular, and democratic India. The initiation of the Five-Year Plans, the establishment of key institutions like the Planning Commission, and the focus on education through the creation of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) were instrumental in shaping the country’s future.
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Nehru’s commitment to democratic values, social justice, and secularism left an indelible imprint on India’s political landscape. His vision for a non-aligned foreign policy played a crucial role in shaping the nation’s global standing. Despite criticisms and challenges, Nehru’s legacy endures as a foundational force in the evolution of modern India. The man who once walk the corridor of Cambridge and the political battleground of India is remember not only as a statesman but as the architect of a free and democratic nation.
