JAWAHARLAL NEHRU: THE GREAT MODERNISER OF INDIA

Nehru ensured that India remained secular, writes Rajendra Aneja

Pandit Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India after independence, laid the foundation of a modern nation. He focused on industrial development, science and technology and reviving rural India. The various states in the country, were woven into a Republic. A Constitution was adopted on 26 January 1950. Pandit Nehru had strong faith in parliamentary democracy. He believed in consultation and consensus. He tried to carry the opposition leaders with the government on key issues.

Nehru managed India for 17 years after independence. He has always been highly respected and revered, not merely in India, but also globally. Nehru won serious admiration for his efforts to ensure global peace. President Dwight Eisenhower wrote him a letter dated 27 November 1958, saying, “Universally you are recognised as one of the most powerful influences for peace and conciliation in the world. I believe that because you are a world leader for peace in your individual capacity, as well as a representative of the largest neutral nation.”

Educated in England at Harrow School, Trinity College, Cambridge, he became a barrister and practised at the Inner Temple. He could have had a flourishing legal practice, yet he chucked it aside and immersed himself fully in the freedom struggle of India.

Nehru became the right man, the “go-to man” for Mahatma Gandhi. He led the various, non-violent agitations and “satyagrahas” (civil resistance) in the cities, streets and villages. Nehru was imprisoned nine times by the British Government. He spent 3,259 days in prison, which is almost 10 years of his life. However, he remained undaunted in his quest for India’s independence. He represented Gandhi and India in the negotiations with the British, for the freedom of the country.

After becoming the Prime Minister, Nehru laid a strong foundation of democratic institutions in the country. India was a poor country at the time of independence. Pandit Nehru realised that to propel the country forward it would be necessary to modernise rapidly. Very wisely he evolved the concept of a “mixed economy”, whereby the public and private sectors would play a parallel role in development. He comprehended that investments in infrastructure industries like steel, coal, railways coaches, electric power, would yield profits only gradually. So, projects like dams, roadways, etc., which had long gestation periods, were spearheaded by the public sector. Consumer products like automobiles, two-wheelers, textiles, foods, were left open to the private sector.

Indian agriculture went through a metamorphosis during Nehru’s era. Agricultural universities were established in many states, to focus on augmenting food production. These universities researched high-yielding seeds and mechanisms to boost production. High-yielding varieties of wheat and rice were being studied in Mexico and Philippines. Punjab state ushered a Green revolution in India, leading to increases in crop production.

Nehru also evolved and advocated the policy of “non-alignment” and peaceful co-existence. After the end of World War II, the world was ruptured by the Cold war between the Western bloc lead by the USA and the Eastern bloc led by the USSR. Most countries aligned with one of the two groups to receive foreign aid and military assistance. Nehru kept India away from global tensions and focused on economic and social development.

Nehru ensured that India remained secular. He realised that India was home to Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists. Jains, etc. With his modern, western exposure in his youth, he realised it would be perilous to have a state religion. Thus, secularism was enshrined in the Constitution of India, to ensure that all religions coexist peacefully.

The policy of secularism, has paid rich dividends in India. Temples, mosques and churches coexist next to each other in every village and town. Citizens of all religions work in the government, armed forces, police, etc. Government recruitments are based on competitive examinations. The public and private sector companies recruit on merit and not religion. Secularism has laid the foundation of a strong India.

Nehru was a learned and widely read person. He is the author of many widely read books. His books like Glimpses of World History, An Autobiography, Letters from a Father to a Daughter, Discovery of India, etc., reveal his astonishing knowledge and deep understanding of international history and cultures. Nehru was very refined and cultured. He spoke Hindi and English fluently. He was always dressed impeccably.

Nehru was an immensely popular Prime Minister. He was respected for his integrity, wisdom and his pivotal role in the freedom struggle. Whenever he travelled to any town or village, thousands of people would flock the roads and streets to greet him. His fan-following was much more than that of any movie-star or a rock-star. Nehru was India.

Whenever Nehru visited Bombay (now Mumbai), in the 1950s, he invariably addressed a public meeting, at the iconic Shivaji Park, in Dadar. The enormous park overflowed with people. I would accompany my father, to listen to Nehru’s speeches, even when I was only 10 years old. Nehru would explain the policies of the government, in simple, elementary language, so that even children could understand him. I also remember his motorcade passing several times through Gokhale Road, where I lived. The footpaths were jammed with people, waiting to see and wave to him. Police held back the frenzied fans. Nehru travelled in an open-top car. He waved untiringly to the people.

Nehru connected spontaneously with Indians of all walks of life. Decades of working with Indians, during the freedom struggle had endeared him to his countrymen. He understood and empathised with them. Nehru also knew rural India.

Nehru loved India passionately. He loved its people, mountains, rivers. After he passed away, his ashes were scattered across India to merge with its soil and seas, according to his wish.

Winston Churchill said in 1955, “Nehru is the light of Asia, and a greater light than Gautama Buddha”. This is an exquisite tribute, to a great believer of peaceful co-existence.

Nehru’s focus on parliamentary democracy, secularism, science, technology, infrastructure development, have applicability even now, in developing countries in Asia and Africa.

– Aneja was the Managing Director of Unilever Tanzania. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and the author of books entitled, “Rural Marketing across Countries and “Business Express”. He is a Management Consultant.