Leaders pay tribute to Nehru on 137th birth anniversary

Nehru's tenure as India's first prime minister

Jawaharlal Nehru served as India's first prime minister for 16 years and 286 days following the country's independence in 1947. He was a central leader of the Indian nationalist movement during the 1930s and 1940s.

Literary contributions and historical perspectives

Nehru authored several well-regarded books, including "Letters from a Father to His Daughter" (1929), "An Autobiography" (1936), and "The Discovery of India" (1946).

In "The Discovery of India," Nehru described the country as an ancient palimpsest where layers of thought and reverie remain visible.

His work "Glimpses of World History" consists of letters written to Indira Gandhi from prison.

Reading habits and prison life

Nehru spent most of his time reading during his more than nine years in prison.

While Nehru generally preferred non-fiction, his reading list included fiction authors such as Somerset Maugham and Aldous Huxley. Prison censors once prohibited him from reading Oswald Spengler’s "Decline of the West" because they deemed the title seditious and dangerous.

These requests included Plato’s "Republic" and Greek tragedies.

Philosophy on state coercion and defiance

Nehru characterized the British Raj as a "police conception of the state" and criticized its lack of democratic institutions. He noted that the administration relied on ordinances and the suppression of personal liberties.

Nehru observed that the use of coercion by a government is costly because it exposes the true nature of their rule to the people and the world. He believed that even minor acts of defiance against repressive measures serve to strengthen the public and undermine the morale of the government.

Citing Henry David Thoreau, Nehru argued that when people are unjustly imprisoned, the appropriate place for just individuals is also in prison.

Insights from autobiography and personal correspondence

Nehru wrote in his autobiography that while fighting for independence, he became accustomed to the constant threat of arrest. He described his "Autobiography" as an account of his mental development during the struggle for independence, which he admitted was an egotistical and one-sided perspective.

While in prison, Nehru wrote a letter to his sister, Vijayalakshmi Pandit, addressing intra-family conflicts between her and his daughter. He observed that the abnormal life of being in and out of prison can cause tempers to fray and lead to a spirit of non-cooperation.

Reflections on leadership and personal conduct

Nehru stated in his book "Glimpses of World History" that he used historical comparisons to past events to guide his own actions. He credited Gandhi with helping India overcome the "black pall of fear" created by the British army, police, and secret service.

Nehru wrote that while one cannot control life's joys, sorrows, or achievements, one should control their attitude toward them, aiming to make life a "work of art" even during difficult times. He advised those in public struggles to "carry the shadow of bigness" in their small tasks and to move through life with "light steps" without being "besmirched".