Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | History
Why in news?
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid tributes to former Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Ji, on the occasion of his birth anniversary.
Jawaharlal Nehru was the 1st Prime Minister of independent India (1947–64), who established parliamentary government and became noted for his neutralist policies in foreign affairs.
He was also one of the principal leaders of the Indian Independence Movement during the 1930s and ’40s.
Early life -
He was born in Allahabad on November 14, 1889 in a Kashmiri Pandit family.
His father, Motilal Nehru, was a wealthy barrister and twice served as President of the Indian National Congress, his Mother Swarup Rani Nehru.
He studied in England at Harrow, then at Trinity College, Cambridge.
In 1912, he returned to India and started working as a lawyer.
Role in Independence Movement -
Political ideology –Nationalism, socialism, and democratic principles, drawing inspiration from both Fabian socialism and Marxist ideals.
Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) – He played a key role in organizing political activities in the United Provinces.
He was also participated in Salt Satyagraha (1930)and Individual Satyagraha (1940-1941).
INC presidency – 1st became Congress President in 1929, Lahore Session - passed the historic Purna Swaraj resolution, which called for complete independence from British rule.
In 1937, Nehru presided over the Faizpur session, which was the first INC session held in a rural area.
In 1942, during Quit India Movement, Nehru, along with the entire Congress leadership, was arrested after moving the ‘Quit India’ resolution on 7th August 1942 in Bombay.
Role in INA Trials (1945-1946) – He along with other prominent leaders took responsibility for defending the INA soldiers during their trials.
Role in Interim Govt & Post Independence -
During the interim government, Nehru contributed on drafting the Constitution by put forward the ‘Objective Resolution,’ which later became the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.
He promoted a mixed economy, import substitution industrialization, science and technology by establishing many institutions of higher learning, and supporting the development of atomic power.
Foreign Policy Legacy – He was the Nehru was the chief architect of India’s foreign policy, emphasizing non-alignment and peaceful coexistence, supported decolonization and Asian-African solidarity.
Books Written –
The Discovery of India,
Glimpses of World History,
An Autobiography,
Letters from a Father to His Daughter.
Awards & Honors –
In 1955, he was honored with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.
In 1970, the World Peace Council Prize was awarded posthumously, to acknowledged his commitment to global peace and non-alignment.
Legacy – He passed away on May 27, 1964 and his birthday (Nov 14) is celebrated as Children's Day for honoring his love for children and educationin the country.
