A great son of India - Pandit Shri Jawaharlal Nehru

Premasara EPASINGHE

One hundred and twenty two years ago, world statesman, national leader, patriot and one of the great sons of India, Jawaharlal Nehru was born on November 14, 1889 in Allahabad, India. He was the son of lawyer Motilal Nehru and Swarup Rani.

He was a Kashmir Brahamin by birth, connected to the personalized elite of the late Mughul Empire. Nehru is from an aristocratic family. They were brought up with the best of English tradition. During 1901-1904, Jawaharlal learned English under a private tutor - Ferdinands Brooks.

Between 1905 - 1912, Jawaharlal Nehru, had his Education in Britain, UK. To start with, he studied at one of the leading public schools in England - Harrow. In 1907, he entered the prestigious Trinity College - Cambridge, studied Natural Sciences Tripos, passed his degree with a lower second. To follow in the footsteps of his illustrious father Motilal, he commenced law studies, at the Inner Temple. In 1912, Jawaharlal Nehru was called to the Bar.

Academic career

In the end of the year 1912, he returned home after a successful academic career. At the age of 27, he married 17 years old Kamala Kaur, on February 8, 1916. They were blessed with a sweet little daughter on November 19, 1917. They named her Indira.

The period between 1916-1919 was the turning point in young Jawaharlal’s life. He met the reputed Annie Besant’s and joined the home rule league. Then for the first time he met Mahathma Gandhi. (Annie Besant (1847-1933) was a British Theosophist and social reformer. She was the President (1907 - 33) of TS. She established the Central Hindu College in Varanasi - Benares in 1898. Besant was active in the struggle for Indians independence. She was a President of the Indian National Congress in 1917.

The theosophy was a religious philosophy originated in the ancient world. It was given a new impetus, when the mystic Helen Blavatsky and American Henry Steel Olcott a Russian born lady found the theosophical society in New York in 1875.

Political and spiritual leader

The main aims of TS were to promote spiritual brotherhood of all humanity, to encourage the comparative study of religions, philosophy science and arts and to develop latent spiritual powers. Mahatma Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948) was an Indian political and spiritual leader.

A lawyer by profession he organized many non-co-operation campaigns including ‘Hartals’, Non-violent campaign Sathyagrahas against the Britishers. He became the President (1925-1934) of the Indian National Congress. Jawaharlal, succeeded Gandhi as the Leader of the Congress. Nehru was a close associate of Gandhiji and he was fondly addressed by Nehru and most of the Indians - as BAPU father. Their main aim was to free India from the Britishers and usher an era of Freed on to their country.

Freedom struggle

The government of India Act in 1919 passed by the Britishers limited the devolution of powers to Provinces and introduced the Rowlatt Act. Gandhi, launched Rowcatt Sathyagraha. Gandhi’s campaign resulted in the Jallianwalla Bash Massacre on April 13, 1919, where 1,650 were killed in and wounded. Gandhi, found an able young educated leader Jawaharlal Nehru. He was like his shadow. He respected the fatherly figure of Gandhi, who promoted Ahimsa - non-violence.

By the 1920’s Jawaharlal Nehru started his Indian freedom struggle, through rural campaigns. On December 6, 1921, Motilal and Jawaharlal were arrested and imprisoned. Jawaharlal’s first stint in the prison lasted till January 31, 1923, nearly an year.

Some great leaders, while they were imprisoned as freedom fighters of their respective countries, wrote books on literature and history, which became very valuable sources of information about their respective countries.

Nehru - Mandela - Dr Colvin R De Silva

Shri Jawaharlal Nehru wrote the ‘Discovery of India’. Nelson Mandela’s book titled the ‘Long Walk To Freedom’ is one of the most extraordinary political tales of the 20th century, a unique life story.

Our own, great national leader, patriot, who fought against the Imperialists and capitalist Samasamajist and one of the leading lights in the legal field Dr Colvin R De Silva wrote the ‘Ceylon Under the British Rule’, the best history book on British period while imprisoned in Bogambara and Welikada prisons.

Even in prison, these great leaders dedicated themselves to serve their people, the future generations in the field of education. Even in literary field too, they contributed their might. They are honest, dedicated national leaders.

After a long drawn struggle, this great son of India, Pandit Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, was sworn in on September 1946, as the first Prime Minister of India. On August 15, 1947, India gained Independence.

Nehru was admired by scholars throughout the world for his non - aligned first neutral policies and ‘Panchaseela principles’. He was truly a colossus among world leaders. The year 1955 Bandung conference was one of his pinnacles in his career. Even great leaders Chou-En-Lai of China, Russian leaders, Americans, Britishers, they all admired him as a great leader. He always stood for peace.

From time immemorial, Sri Lanka and India maintained very close friendly ties. Thanks to the great Mayuran Emperor Ashoka, Sri Lanka got the greatest gift Theravada Buddhistm.

Great Indian leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore, Indira, Rajiv, always maintained a very close relationship with Sri Lanka. In fact, once Nehru wrote in his writings, that, while he was in prison, he hung a photograph of the Buddha, and he stated that this particular Samadhi Buddha statue photograph brought him much happiness and solace when he was in the cell.

It is heartening to note, that even today, our dynamic President Mahinda Rajapaksa maintains a very close friendly relationship with highly respected Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and with India.

Nehru’s time was up by 1964. On January 6, 1964, he had a stroke. During this time he faced many critical problems, even within the party. Jawaharlal Nehru ruled India for nearly two decades 1946-1964. He was undoubtedly a colossus in the world scene of politics.

India never gained freedom on a platter. They achieved it with blood, sweat, toil, dedication and commitment. To unite a vast nation is no child’s play.

Under the able guidance of the ‘Father of the Nation’ Mahatma Gandhi, and with other national leaders, Nehru fought against British Imperialism and ultimately achieved their goal - ‘Freed India.’

On May 27,1964 this great philosopher, statesman, visionary and world leader Pandit Shri Jawaharlal Nehru went to sleep forever.

Democracy and socialism

Nehru in his last will mentioned that he wished a very simple funeral. But it was not to be. It was a state funeral and millions attended and paid their last respect to this great son of India, national leader and patriot of India.

The pyre was lit by Indira’s son Sanjaya and the ashes were scattered from air to the countryside.

Pandit Shri Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964) played a vital role in the independence struggle. It is said that he negotiated with the last viceroy of British India Lord Earl Mountbatten and Mohamed Al Jinnah who is considered the ‘Father of Pakistan’ that led to the Independence of India and Pakistan.

As the first Prime Minister of India, Nehru followed a Foreign Policy of Non-alignment in cold war, adopted the peaceful Panchaseela principles and became a leading light in Asian politics.

He insisted that the future Indian political order should be based on the principles of Democracy and socialism. He called for a republican form of government, and totally rejected an external monarchy.

Independence Day speech

Jawaharlal Nehru, was no ordinary Head of State. He was able to give leadership to free his country from British Imperialism, and was an exemplary world figure. I presume he was undoubtedly the greatest Prime Minister that India produced in their proud, prestigious history.

Fragments of Pandit Shri Jawaharlal Nehru’s speeches still remain embedded in my memory. On August 15, 1947 in his historical Independence Day speech, he called himself first servant of the Indian people.

I quote some extracts from his brilliant speech:

“At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and Freedom. 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. We end today a period of ill-fortune and discover again that freedom and power bring responsibility. The service of India means, the service of the millions who suffer. It means, the ending of poverty, ignorance, disease and inequality of opportunity. The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every fear from every eye.

“We have to build the noble mansion of free India, where all her children may dwell. On this day, our first thoughts go to the Architect of this freedom - the father of freedom Mahatma Gandhij, who embodying the old spirit of India, held aloft the Torch of Freedom and light up the darkness that surround us. We shall never allow that torch of freedom to be blown out, however high the wind or stormy the tempest and to India, our much loved motherland, the ancient and eternal and ever new, we pay our reverent homage and we find ourselves afresh to her services”.