Jawaher Lall Nehru was the first prime minister of India. He participated in the non-violence movement against the British and under the Guidance of Mahatma Gandhi. Nehru was an educated man and a freedom fighter, who devoted his life to public service in India.
Jawaharlal Nehru: Profile of a Devout Statesman of Indian Republic
Jawaharlal Nehru was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and had everything one could dream off for a lavish life in the colonial India but he chose to serve his country and joined the fight against the British for India’s independence. As a trained advocate from the Cambridge University, he often impressed masses with his convincing speeches to mobilize them in freedom fight (“Jawaharlal Nehru Profile”). Nehru was not deterred even after being jailed frequently for his participation in disobedience and non-cooperation campaign. In fact, he came out stronger each time he was jailed because while in jail, he understood the Gandhian philosophy and approach to fight for independence better (Nehru). His commitments to social justice, secularism, and equal opportunity for all were keys to his rise to prominence in Indian Congress. Nehru was one of the founding leaders, alongside Mahatma Gandhi, who understood the plight of common people, spearheaded the non-violence movement with Gandhi, and led India to independence from centuries of British colonialism.
Jawaharlal Nehru spent a brief career as a barrister but could not ignore the sorry plight of the Indian people and the atrocities committed by the British Empire. His devotion to India’s struggle overwhelmed him and he left his respectable job and privileged lifestyle and followed in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi to the dust and poverty of Indian villages (Wolpert). Nehru had support of his daughter Indira Gandhi who walked alongside him everywhere he went. They led demonstrations, non-cooperation movements, and lifted spirits of the downtrodden common people of India. Their sheer presence through the crowd and village after village gave strength to the Indian people in fight against the British. This was best described by Larry Collins when he wrote in his book, Freedom at Midnight, “Together they had embarked upon the last battles against the British colonial power, trailing tirelessly about the country using the crowds in the rural areas and the poor neighborhoods under the scorching sun or in the monsoon tornadoes. Everywhere they went people came running, even if most of them understood nothing of what they were saying. It didn't matter. It was enough for them to see Jawaharlal’s white cap above the sea of heads.”
Jawaharlal Nehru’s role in freedom movement in India has not received as much historical attention as it deserves. This is not surprising as he worked alongside of Mahatma Gandhi, the man known as the Father of Nation in India. Nehru was a selfless person, incredibly well educated, and a powerful speaker who gave Indian people at that time, a face of new active India and a role model for the millions of young freedom fighter. Nehru’s first big involvement in non-violent movement came in 1920 when he joined Satyagraha that had swept the nation. Nehru was arrested for anti-governmental activities and was jailed for several months. During his arrest, Mahatma Gandhi became the supreme leader of the Indian National Congress Party (“Nehru and Gandhiji”). Both men had mutual respect for each other’s ability to lead the nation and their dedication to the cause of Indian independence. After Nehru was released, his respect for Gandhi and commitment to his leadership grew stronger. Nehru was involved in planning for movements at the grass root level and adopted to the Gandhian way of life including using home-spun clothes as they boycotted the machine made clothes imported from Britain. In 1929, Nehru led the civil disobedience movement of Lahore and was instrumental in successful non-violent protest and picketing that took the nation by storm (“Nehru’s Role in Freedom of India”). Nehru was arrested again in 1930 and it did not deter him from fighting for his goals. He was eventually arrested seven times during his fight for freedom in the next several years. Nehru spent a total of nine years in serving all sentences Nehru’s cooperation with Mahatma Gandhi won him much respect in the Indian politics and he became the president of the Indian National Congress Party in 1936. Nehru had to fight with other freedom fighters who had different approaches to win India back from the British, the one that involved use of violence (“Jawaharlal Nehru”).
Jawaharlal Nehru was the young leader and a rising star who had gained respect from both Indian and British leaders. Because of his skills in international relations and popularity abroad, Nehru knew how to position India towards freedom from the British. Nehru supported the British during the World War II and hoped for India’s independence as a reward. The War was long and there was no promise from the British side for India’s independence. This led to the famous “Quit India Movement” in 1942 and unlike the other non-violent movement, this movement created an upheaval in the country. Nehru and all top leaders were arrested. People were left without a leader and guidance which gave rise to the quintessence of a “spontaneous” rising by the people (“Quit India Movement”). Factory and mill workers rose to the occasion and showed their support. Even with the harsh repression by the British, the morale of the movement remained intact. The teachings and guidance of Nehru and Gandhi to stay united in fight against the British was working. Quit India Movement sealed the success for Satyagraha and the Indian leaders and people claimed victory in their fight (“Quit India Movement”). This was the first time that British leaders felt that time had come to leave India. After the end of World War II and the rise of new Labor Government in Britain, talks began to free India. Nehru was at the heart of the negotiations along with Indian leaders including Mohammed Ali Jinnah. His diplomatic approach to resolving the problem was praised by many but it was also criticized as many Indians did not want to see India divided. Nehru tried his best to convince Muslim leaders to keep India as one country but it was in vain. With several meetings and heartbreaking agreement to create a new state, Pakistan, for Muslims, India gained its independence on August 15, 1947.
In conclusion, Nehru was a one of the most charismatic leader in Indian history and the one who helped India gain its independence from the British colonialism. Nehru was visionary and helped form the Indian political structure of house and senate that is still prevalent today. Nehru’s popularity as a leader was evident when he was elected as the first prime minister of the free India. Not only Nehru was a leader of the people and devoted all his life in public service for the betterment of his country, but he also was an intelligent leader of non-violence movements who led India to freedom from the British Empire.
Work Cited
Collins, Larry, and Dominique Lapierre. Freedom at Midnight. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1975. Print.
"Jawaharlal Nehru." Biography. Cultural India, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. <http://www.culturalindia.net/leaders/jawaharlal-nehru.html>.
"JAWAHARLAL NEHRU PROFILE." JAWAHARLAL NEHRU PROFILE. SIMZONE, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. <http://nehrumama.blogspot.com/>.
"Nehru and Gandhiji." Nehru and Gandhiji. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. <http://www.mapsofindia.com/personalities/nehru/nehru-and-gandhiji.html>.
Nehru, Jawaharlal. The Discovery of India. New York: John Day, 1946. Print.
"Nehru's Role in the Freedom of India." Nehru's Role in the Freedom of India. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. <http://www.mapsofindia.com/personalities/nehru/nehru-nationalism.html>.
"Quit India Movement." Quit India Movement. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. <http://www.mapsofindia.com/personalities/gandhi/quit-india-movement.html>.
Wolpert, Stanley A. Nehru: A Tryst with Destiny. New York: Oxford UP, 1996. Print.
Jawaharlal Nehru was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and had everything one could dream off for a lavish life in the colonial India but he chose to serve his country and joined the fight against the British for India’s independence. As a trained advocate from the Cambridge University, he often impressed masses with his convincing speeches to mobilize them in freedom fight (“Jawaharlal Nehru Profile”). Nehru was not deterred even after being jailed frequently for his participation in disobedience and non-cooperation campaign. In fact, he came out stronger each time he was jailed because while in jail, he understood the Gandhian philosophy and approach to fight for independence better (Nehru). His commitments to social justice, secularism, and equal opportunity for all were keys to his rise to prominence in Indian Congress. Nehru was one of the founding leaders, alongside Mahatma Gandhi, who understood the plight of common people, spearheaded the non-violence movement with Gandhi, and led India to independence from centuries of British colonialism.
Jawaharlal Nehru spent a brief career as a barrister but could not ignore the sorry plight of the Indian people and the atrocities committed by the British Empire. His devotion to India’s struggle overwhelmed him and he left his respectable job and privileged lifestyle and followed in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi to the dust and poverty of Indian villages (Wolpert). Nehru had support of his daughter Indira Gandhi who walked alongside him everywhere he went. They led demonstrations, non-cooperation movements, and lifted spirits of the downtrodden common people of India. Their sheer presence through the crowd and village after village gave strength to the Indian people in fight against the British. This was best described by Larry Collins when he wrote in his book, Freedom at Midnight, “Together they had embarked upon the last battles against the British colonial power, trailing tirelessly about the country using the crowds in the rural areas and the poor neighborhoods under the scorching sun or in the monsoon tornadoes. Everywhere they went people came running, even if most of them understood nothing of what they were saying. It didn't matter. It was enough for them to see Jawaharlal’s white cap above the sea of heads.”
Jawaharlal Nehru’s role in freedom movement in India has not received as much historical attention as it deserves. This is not surprising as he worked alongside of Mahatma Gandhi, the man known as the Father of Nation in India. Nehru was a selfless person, incredibly well educated, and a powerful speaker who gave Indian people at that time, a face of new active India and a role model for the millions of young freedom fighter. Nehru’s first big involvement in non-violent movement came in 1920 when he joined Satyagraha that had swept the nation. Nehru was arrested for anti-governmental activities and was jailed for several months. During his arrest, Mahatma Gandhi became the supreme leader of the Indian National Congress Party (“Nehru and Gandhiji”). Both men had mutual respect for each other’s ability to lead the nation and their dedication to the cause of Indian independence. After Nehru was released, his respect for Gandhi and commitment to his leadership grew stronger. Nehru was involved in planning for movements at the grass root level and adopted to the Gandhian way of life including using home-spun clothes as they boycotted the machine made clothes imported from Britain. In 1929, Nehru led the civil disobedience movement of Lahore and was instrumental in successful non-violent protest and picketing that took the nation by storm (“Nehru’s Role in Freedom of India”). Nehru was arrested again in 1930 and it did not deter him from fighting for his goals. He was eventually arrested seven times during his fight for freedom in the next several years. Nehru spent a total of nine years in serving all sentences Nehru’s cooperation with Mahatma Gandhi won him much respect in the Indian politics and he became the president of the Indian National Congress Party in 1936. Nehru had to fight with other freedom fighters who had different approaches to win India back from the British, the one that involved use of violence (“Jawaharlal Nehru”).
Jawaharlal Nehru was the young leader and a rising star who had gained respect from both Indian and British leaders. Because of his skills in international relations and popularity abroad, Nehru knew how to position India towards freedom from the British. Nehru supported the British during the World War II and hoped for India’s independence as a reward. The War was long and there was no promise from the British side for India’s independence. This led to the famous “Quit India Movement” in 1942 and unlike the other non-violent movement, this movement created an upheaval in the country. Nehru and all top leaders were arrested. People were left without a leader and guidance which gave rise to the quintessence of a “spontaneous” rising by the people (“Quit India Movement”). Factory and mill workers rose to the occasion and showed their support. Even with the harsh repression by the British, the morale of the movement remained intact. The teachings and guidance of Nehru and Gandhi to stay united in fight against the British was working. Quit India Movement sealed the success for Satyagraha and the Indian leaders and people claimed victory in their fight (“Quit India Movement”). This was the first time that British leaders felt that time had come to leave India. After the end of World War II and the rise of new Labor Government in Britain, talks began to free India. Nehru was at the heart of the negotiations along with Indian leaders including Mohammed Ali Jinnah. His diplomatic approach to resolving the problem was praised by many but it was also criticized as many Indians did not want to see India divided. Nehru tried his best to convince Muslim leaders to keep India as one country but it was in vain. With several meetings and heartbreaking agreement to create a new state, Pakistan, for Muslims, India gained its independence on August 15, 1947.
In conclusion, Nehru was a one of the most charismatic leader in Indian history and the one who helped India gain its independence from the British colonialism. Nehru was visionary and helped form the Indian political structure of house and senate that is still prevalent today. Nehru’s popularity as a leader was evident when he was elected as the first prime minister of the free India. Not only Nehru was a leader of the people and devoted all his life in public service for the betterment of his country, but he also was an intelligent leader of non-violence movements who led India to freedom from the British Empire.
Work Cited
Collins, Larry, and Dominique Lapierre. Freedom at Midnight. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1975. Print.
"Jawaharlal Nehru." Biography. Cultural India, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. <http://www.culturalindia.net/leaders/jawaharlal-nehru.html>.
"JAWAHARLAL NEHRU PROFILE." JAWAHARLAL NEHRU PROFILE. SIMZONE, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. <http://nehrumama.blogspot.com/>.
"Nehru and Gandhiji." Nehru and Gandhiji. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. <http://www.mapsofindia.com/personalities/nehru/nehru-and-gandhiji.html>.
Nehru, Jawaharlal. The Discovery of India. New York: John Day, 1946. Print.
"Nehru's Role in the Freedom of India." Nehru's Role in the Freedom of India. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. <http://www.mapsofindia.com/personalities/nehru/nehru-nationalism.html>.
"Quit India Movement." Quit India Movement. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. <http://www.mapsofindia.com/personalities/gandhi/quit-india-movement.html>.
Wolpert, Stanley A. Nehru: A Tryst with Destiny. New York: Oxford UP, 1996. Print.