jawaharlal Nehru biography

Jawaharlal Nehru

"Nehru" redirects here. For the style of jacket, see Nehru jacket.

Jawaharlal Nehru
Nehru, circa 1927.
1st Prime Minister of India
In office 15 August 1947 – 27 May 1964
Monarch	King George VI (until 26 January 1950)
President	Rajendra Prasad and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
Governor–General	Louis Mountbatten C. Rajagopalachari
Preceded by	Position Created
Succeeded by	Gulzarilal Nanda (interim)
Minister for External Affairs of India
In office 15 August 1947 – 27 May 1964
Preceded by	Position Created
Succeeded by	Gulzarilal Nanda
Finance Minister of India
In office 8 October 1958 – 17 November 1959
Preceded by	T. T. Krishnamachari
Succeeded by	Morarji Desai
Born	14 November 1889 Allahabad, United Provinces, British India
Died	27 May 1964 (aged 74) New Delhi, Delhi, India
Nationality	Indian
Political party	Indian National Congress
Spouse(s)	Kamala Nehru
Children	Indira Gandhi
Alma mater	Trinity College, Cambridge
Profession	Barrister
Religion	Agnostic[1][2]
Signature

Jawaharlal Nehru (Hindi: जवाहरलाल नेहरू, pronounced [dʒəʋaːɦərˈlaːl ˈneːɦruː]; 14 November 1889–27 May 1964^[3]) was an Indian statesman who was the first (and to date the longest-serving) prime minister of India, from 1947 until 1964. One of the leading figures in the Indian independence movement after Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Nehru was elected by the Congress Party to assume office as independent India's first Prime Minister, and re-elected when the Congress Party won India's first general election in 1952. As one of the founders of the Non-aligned Movement, he was also an important figure in the international politics of the post-war era. He is frequently referred to as Pandit Nehru and, specifically in India, as Panditji.
The son of a wealthy Indian barrister and politician, Motilal Nehru, Nehru became a leader of the left wing of the Indian National Congress when still fairly young. Rising to become Congress President, under the mentorship of Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru was a charismatic and radical leader, advocating complete independence from the British Empire. In the long struggle for Indian independence, in which he was a key player, Nehru was eventually recognized as Gandhi's political heir. Throughout his life, Nehru was also an advocate for Fabian socialism and the public sector as the means by which long-standing challenges of economic development could be addressed by poorer nations.

Life and career

Nehru raised the flag of independent India in New Delhi on 15 August 1947, the day India gained Independence. Nehru's appreciation of the virtues of parliamentary democracy, secularism and liberalism, coupled with his concerns for the poor and underprivileged, are recognised to have guided him in formulating socialist policies that influence India to this day. They also reflect the socialist origins of his worldview. He is sometimes referred to as the "Architect of Modern India"^{[citation needed]}. His daughter, Indira Gandhi, and grandson, Rajiv Gandhi, also served as Prime Ministers of India.

[edit] Successor to Gandhi

On 15 January 1941 Gandhiji said, "Some say Pandit Nehru and I were estranged. It will require much more than difference of opinion to estrange us. We had differences from the time we became co-workers and yet I have said for some years and say so now that not Rajaji but Jawaharlal will be my successor."^[11]

[edit] India's first Prime Minister

Teen Murti Bhavan, Nehru's residence as Prime Minister, now a museum in his memory.

Nehru and his colleagues had been released as the British Cabinet Mission arrived to propose plans for transfer of power.
Once elected, Nehru, with all his cunnings; engineered an interim government, which to Nehru's Political advantage was impaired by outbreaks of communal violence and political disorder, and the opposition of the Muslim League led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who were demanding a separate Muslim state of Pakistan. After failed bids to form coalitions, Nehru saw an opportunity to lead the country and happily supported the partition of India, according to a plan released by the British on 3 June 1947. He took office as the Prime Minister of India on 15 August, and delivered his inaugural address titled "A Tryst With Destiny" that was dictated to him by the last British Governor of India and ratified by Queen of England.

"Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity."^[12]

However, this period was marked with intense communal violence. This violence swept across the Punjab region, Delhi, Bengal and other parts of India. Nehru conducted joint tours^{[citation needed]} with Pakistani leaders to encourage peace and calm angry and disillusioned refugees. Nehru would work with Maulana Azad and other Muslim leaders to safeguard and encourage Muslims to remain in India. The violence of the time deeply affected Nehru, who called for a ceasefire^{[citation needed]} and UN intervention to stop the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. Fearing communal reprisals, Nehru also hesitated in supporting the annexation of Hyderabad State.
In the years following independence, Nehru frequently turned to his daughter Indira to look after him and manage his personal affairs. Under his leadership, the Congress won an overwhelming majority in the elections of 1952. Indira moved into Nehru's official residence to attend to him and became his constant companion in his travels across India and the world. Indira would virtually become Nehru's chief of staff.