Jawahar lal Nehru was the first prime minister of the nation. He was born in Allahabad on November 14, 1889. Due to his love toward children, his birthday is celebrated as Children’s day in India. If one takes a closer look in Nehru’s life, they will find that he was the initiator of neutralist (nonaligned) policies in foreign affairs. In the duration of 1930 to 1940 before becoming the prime minister of nation, he was one of the prominent leaders of India’s independence movement. His endless contribution led toward the development of a strong and independent India as we see it today. Yet his efforts are disparaged by a lot of people and political rivals of Congress party.
Here are some facts about Jawahar Lal Nehru which make him a beloved Prime Minister.
Fight for Indian Independence
Jawaharlal Nehru surfaces as the leader of India’s intellectuals and youth after the Lahore session in 1929. Mahatma Gandhi recognises the spark in Nehru and aligned him with some senior leaders of the Congress Party. This controversial stunt was aimed to draw attention of Indian youth in the independence movement and stand together with Congress.
After the death of his father Motilal Nehru, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru switched to inner councils of the Party. Although Jawaharlal Nehru actively led the congress party for over two decades, he was officially designated as a political heir in 1942.
Imprisonment
Under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru was arrested during the salt march. After Gandhi return from the second Round table conference in London, he was arrested in January 1932. Gandhi was charged with attempt to initiate another civil disobedience movement and Jawaharlal Nehru was also arrested and sentenced imprisonment for two years.
As World War II break out in September 1939, the viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, had aligned India to war without taking any official approval from the autonomous provincial ministries. Gandhi supported this act whereas Jawaharlal Nehru opposed this greatly at it was against his nonviolence policies.
After one year of World War II, Gandhi abandoned his original stand and planned to launch a limited civil disobedience campaign in October 1940. Leading advocates who were instrumental in the fight for independence of India were selected to participate one by one. As the result of this, Nehru was arrested again and sentenced imprisonment for four years. He was later released after spending over one year in prison.
Jawahar lal Nehru was arrested several times. He was last arrested on August 8, 1942, when the Quit India resolution is passed by the Congress Party. Thos action resulted into imprisonment of the entire Congress working committee along with Nehru and Gandhi.
Read Everything about Congress President Rahul Gandhi History here.
Achievements As Prime Minister
Jawaharlal Nehru was elected as the prime minister in year 1947. After few months of partition from Pakistan, Nehru made endless efforts to reduce the tension between newly formed nations. Both countries claim their ownership on Kashmir region which was at that moment ruled by Maharaja Hari Singh. When Hari Singh chooses India, a fight breaks out between both countries and Nehru proposed territorial adjustments along the border to ensure security of the nation.
In August 1955, Jawaharlal Nehru permitted a group of unarmed Indians to march in Goa, the last Portuguese territory in India for a nonviolent demonstration to take it over peacefully. He waited for six years to maintain the peace with Portuguese government before finally striking to get Goa back.
Under his leadership, the widows were granted equal share in her husband’s property which was a great deal for empowering women in India.
These are some major reasons why Jawaharlal Nehru is beloved by the people of India. He was the first leader to lead independent India and his actions help the nation to recover from some of the most crucial events like the partition in 1947.
