Nehru’s
India : Essays on the Maker of a Nation is a collection of
essays on the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, by a
series of eminent personalities who have had personal experience of the great man, or
knowledge of some rarely known aspect. The
book is an excellent resource for all of us, and a short reminder of what a
tremendous contribution he made to the nation, and that Modern India owes a
debt of gratitude to this great personality.
It brings
out a series of rarely known aspects of the former Prime Minister and Freedom
Fighter, and introduces us to him as a human being, a real person – not just a character
or historical figure on the book pages. That is the strongest part of this book
: its personal approach, and its success is creating a realistic image in our
minds. The string of facts is suitably intermixed with personal quirks, or other
characteristics that all come together to create a real person in our minds,
the closest at least I have ever some to Pandit Nehru in my readings.
The best part
of the book is it successfully steers clear of controversy, while strongly rebutting
the various incorrect notions that are now beginning to get aired in Social
Media, leading to a flawed understanding of this great man’s contribution to
our national cause. The various thought-provoking articles paint a picture of a nation and the contribution
of this hero to the cause of setting up the new fledgling nation in very
friendly non offensive ways that are
beyond reproach, based as they are on fact.
The book
starts with an examination of the 4 pillars of Nehruvian thought : Democracy,
Socialism, Non-Alignment, Secularism in a well-presented longish essay that establishes
their relevance, and their reasons. Another essay does a searching examination
of the Hindtutv angle and its relationship with Pandit Nehru, painting a moving
picture of a young to-be-born nation, and the forces arraigned in it, as well
as the various international angles & repercussions. This is the frontispiece
of the book, as it makets us understand what the environment was like then, and
why and how things transpired the way they did. The reminiscence of a Pakistani
and his praise for Nehru, with the evocative statement as to how it was due to
him India found its path, bring the chapter to a fitting closure…
Another
fabulous chapter forms the essay on the early Industrial , Economic, Human, Social,
Educational parameters of development – challenging basis facts the impression
gaining ground of that era, and laying verifiable facts and sequence of events
in front of the reader, proving how there was no option in front of Nehru but
to do what he did, including the Public Sector – bringing in support of this
various facts, including the Bombay Plan wherein Industrialists themselves
asked for state investment in the economic development of the nation.
His contribution
– hitherto unknown to most of us – in education and social development is
presented in a masterly fashion, as for example in two essays which bring out
the land reforms, which had a seminal impact on the development of Rural India.
Perhaps the most powerful aspect, brought to the fore in one part of one essay,
is the effort to get results in the various plans, and the implementation
problems he encountered – something none of us give any credence to, or even
accept. The book brings out more than a few ground-breaking initiatives
Panditji took as he wrestled with the twin problems of ensuring development as
well as getting plans Implemented; none of these plans we are aware of – all of
which were targeted at Rural India .
It does
bring out some of the errors – none of which are known, by the way. The nuanced
analysis of the China issue, for example, and how and why it came about
deserves a read… by all of us. You will find it scattered throughout various
essays, but together – it gives very balanced view of exactly what might have
transpired, and fuels the desire to know more of what happened. As also his
personality traits, like his tendency to
trust – which had massive positives; but could also hurt at times.
This
overall effort of collecting these essays into one book thus serves a great
purpose, and a much needed one – that of reminding all of us just how truly
lucky we are to have had a great man, and a great thinker as the first leader
of the nation. But more than all of this, it brings to the fore the reality
that above all, Panditji was a realist, and an eminently practical individual
as well as a practical leader. The way he negotiated the pitfalls, and the way
he set about implementation proves that.
Firm when needed, and soft when needed. Such a man we have not seen since, sadly.
All in
all, this is a masterpiece of a work on the great man, one that deserves a read
by all Indians. Reading it will enable you to question several wrongly held
notions, as well as bring you face to
face with the great man – Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, one of the greatest Indians
to be born ever. It brings you to face a man who was at home with scientists as
well as with rural folk, a man of incredible knowledge, deep expertise in a
variety of domains, as well as a man given to total humility and simplicity. Never
since his passing has India had a leader with such a tremendously wide spectrum
of interests and competencies, knowledge and capabilities…
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