Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964)

 Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the most 

prominent Indian political leaders and statesmen of the twentieth century. He was born on November 14, 1889, in Allahabad, a city in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India. Nehru was the son of Motilal Nehru, a successful lawyer and one of the leading figures in the Indian independence movement. He was also the nephew of the prominent Indian nationalist, Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

Education and Early Life:

Nehru received his early education at home and then attended Harrow School in England, where he excelled in academics and sports. He later attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where he earned a degree in natural sciences. Nehru was deeply influenced by the ideas of socialism and nationalism during his time at Cambridge and became involved in Indian nationalist politics.

Political Career:

Upon returning to India in 1912, Nehru began to immerse himself in the Indian independence movement. He joined the Indian National Congress, which was then led by Mahatma Gandhi, and became a close associate of the Mahatma. Nehru quickly rose through the ranks of the Congress Party and was elected president of the party in 1929.

Nehru was a strong advocate of non-violent resistance and civil disobedience, and he was often arrested and imprisoned for his political activities. He served a total of nine years in jail, including a two-year sentence for his involvement in the Salt Satyagraha, a non-violent protest against British colonial rule.

In 1947, Nehru played a pivotal role in the Indian independence movement, which led to the establishment of an independent India. He was appointed the first Prime Minister of India and served in this position until his death in 1964. Nehru was a central figure in the newly independent India, and his leadership was critical in shaping the country's political and economic development.

Domestic Policy:

As Prime Minister, Nehru implemented a range of domestic policies aimed at modernizing India and promoting social and economic development. He launched the Five-Year Plans, a series of economic development programs that focused on industrialization, infrastructure development, and agricultural modernization.

Nehru was also a strong advocate of secularism and worked to promote religious harmony in India. He believed that India's strength lay in its diversity and that it was important to embrace this diversity rather than seek to suppress it. Nehru's commitment to secularism and religious tolerance was enshrined in the Indian Constitution, which he helped to draft.

Foreign Policy:

Nehru was also a key figure in shaping India's foreign policy. He played a leading role in the Non-Aligned Movement, a group of countries that sought to maintain their independence and neutrality during the Cold War. Nehru was a strong advocate of peace and disarmament and worked to promote these values on the international stage.

Nehru also played a pivotal role in India's relations with China. He worked to build a strong relationship with China, which he saw as a key partner in the development of Asia. However, tensions between India and China escalated in the 1960s, and Nehru's efforts to maintain good relations with China were ultimately unsuccessful.

Legacy:

Jawaharlal Nehru is widely regarded as one of India's greatest leaders and statesmen. His leadership was instrumental in India's struggle for independence, and his policies helped to shape the country's political and economic development in the years following independence. Nehru's commitment to secularism and religious tolerance continues to be a cornerstone of Indian democracy.

Nehru's legacy is also reflected in his family. His daughter, Indira Gandhi, served as Prime Minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 to 1984. His grandson.