Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the most popular leaders of India’s freedom struggle. He worked with Mahatma Gandhi and many other leaders to free India from British rule. After India became independent in 1947, Nehru became the country’s first Prime Minister. He worked to build a new India where people could live freely, receive an education, and get better opportunities. Nehru believed that India could become a strong country through education, science, industries, and democracy. He wanted people to think freely and take part in the country’s development. His contribution to India’s freedom struggle and his work as Prime Minister made him an important figure in Indian history.
Early Life of Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru was born on 14 November 1889 in Allahabad, which is now called Prayagraj, in Uttar Pradesh. His father, Motilal Nehru, was a well-known lawyer and a leader of the Indian National Congress. His mother, Swarup Rani Nehru, took care of the family and played an important role in his life. Nehru grew up in a wealthy family. He received his early education at home, where private teachers taught him different subjects. He enjoyed reading books and learning about the world around him.
When Nehru was 15 years old, he went to England for further studies. He studied at Harrow School and later joined Trinity College, Cambridge. He studied natural sciences at Cambridge and then trained as a lawyer in London. Nehru returned to India in 1912 and started working as a lawyer. However, he soon became interested in politics. He saw that British rule was preventing Indians from making important decisions about their own country. He wanted India to become free, so he decided to join the freedom struggle.
Jawaharlal Nehru’s Entry into the Freedom Movement
Nehru joined the Indian National Congress in 1912. The Congress was a political organisation that worked to improve the rights of Indians and later became the main organisation leading the freedom struggle. At that time, many Indians were unhappy with British rule. They wanted more freedom and the right to make decisions for their country.
Nehru came into contact with Mahatma Gandhi, who believed that India could achieve independence through peaceful protests and public participation. Gandhi’s ideas had a strong influence on Nehru. Nehru began visiting different parts of India. He met farmers, workers, and ordinary people and learned about their problems. He understood that the freedom struggle was not only about removing British rule. It was also about giving people a better life. Over time, Nehru became one of the leading faces of the Indian freedom movement.
Role of Jawaharlal Nehru in India’s Freedom Struggle
Nehru took part in several movements against British rule. He supported peaceful protests, encouraged people to join the struggle, and went to prison many times because of his political activities.
Non-Cooperation Movement
Mahatma Gandhi started the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920. The main idea was simple. If Indians stopped supporting British institutions, the British government would find it difficult to rule the country. People were encouraged to leave British schools, avoid British goods, and stay away from government institutions. Nehru actively participated in the movement. He travelled across India and encouraged people to support the demand for freedom. He also met farmers and learned about the problems they faced. The movement brought many ordinary Indians into the freedom struggle. However, Gandhi stopped it in 1922 after an incident of violence at Chauri Chaura in Uttar Pradesh. Even after the movement ended, Nehru continued working for India’s independence.
Nehru and the Demand for Complete Independence
In December 1929, Nehru became the president of the Indian National Congress at its Lahore session. This was an important moment in India’s freedom struggle. Under his leadership, the Congress adopted Purna Swaraj, which means complete independence, as its goal. Until then, some leaders had hoped to gain greater self-government under British rule. The Lahore session made it clear that the Congress wanted complete freedom.
The Congress decided to celebrate 26 January 1930 as Independence Day. People across India took part in activities to show their support for an independent India. This decision gave a clear direction to the freedom movement. Indians were no longer asking only for more rights. They wanted the British to leave the country.
Civil Disobedience Movement
In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi started the Civil Disobedience Movement. The movement encouraged Indians to break unfair British laws peacefully. One of the main events of this movement was the Salt March. Gandhi walked from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi in Gujarat and broke the British salt law by making salt. Salt was used by everyone, but the British government controlled its production and imposed a tax on it. Gandhi chose salt to show how even ordinary people were affected by British policies.
Nehru supported the movement and encouraged people to take part in protests. The British government arrested him in 1930. His arrest did not stop him from supporting the freedom struggle. Like many other national leaders, he spent several years in prison because of his activities against British rule.
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement was launched by the Indian National Congress in August 1942. Mahatma Gandhi gave the famous call of “Do or Die” and demanded that the British leave India. Nehru supported the movement along with other Congress leaders. Soon after the movement began, the British government arrested him and many other national leaders.
Nehru remained in prison until 1945. During this period, the British government tried to stop the movement by arresting leaders and taking strict action against protesters. Although the government suppressed many protests, the movement showed that Indians wanted freedom and were no longer willing to accept British rule. Nehru’s role in these movements made him one of the most recognised leaders of the freedom struggle.
Jawaharlal Nehru Becomes India’s First Prime Minister
India became independent on 15 August 1947. After years of struggle, Indians were finally free from British rule. Nehru became the First Prime Minister of independent India. However, the country faced many problems. The Partition of India led to the creation of Pakistan and caused widespread violence. Millions of people had to leave their homes and move across the new borders.
The new government had to help these people, maintain peace, and build a stable country. Nehru also had to focus on poverty, education, jobs, and economic development. On the night before independence, Nehru delivered his famous speech, Tryst with Destiny, in the Constituent Assembly. He spoke about India’s freedom and the responsibility of building a better future. For Nehru, independence was only the beginning. He believed that India now needed to work towards removing poverty, improving education, and giving people equal opportunities.
How Nehru Helped Build Modern India
Nehru wanted India to become a modern country. He believed that freedom would have greater meaning when people had access to education, better jobs, healthcare, and opportunities to improve their lives.
Building a Democratic Country
Nehru believed that people should have the right to choose their government. He supported democracy, in which citizens elect their representatives through elections. India held its first general elections in 1951-52. Millions of people voted to choose their leaders. These elections were a major step in building India’s democratic system. Nehru also supported the Constitution and the institutions that helped the country function as a democracy. He believed that people should be able to express their views and that political disagreements should be handled through peaceful discussion. His government helped establish democratic practices during the early years of independent India.
Promoting Science and Education
Nehru believed that education could change people’s lives. He wanted children to go to school and young people to have opportunities to learn new skills. He also believed that India needed scientists, engineers, doctors, and researchers to develop as a country. During his time as Prime Minister, India continued to develop institutions for higher education and scientific research. The Indian Institutes of Technology became important centres for engineering and technical education.
The government also supported scientific research through institutions such as the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. Nehru wanted Indians to think logically, ask questions, and find answers through science. He believed that scientific knowledge could help the country solve problems in farming, healthcare, industry, and technology.
Developing Industries and Agriculture
When India became independent, the country had limited industrial development. Many people depended on farming for their income, and poverty was widespread. Nehru believed that India needed more industries to create jobs and produce goods within the country. His government invested in steel plants, power projects, factories, dams, and irrigation facilities. The government also introduced Five-Year Plans to set development goals and decide how money and resources should be used.
Large dams helped provide water for farming and electricity for homes and industries. Industrial projects were expected to support economic growth and reduce India’s dependence on other countries. However, poverty remained a major problem, and the benefits of development did not reach everyone equally. Even so, the industries and infrastructure developed during Nehru’s time helped shape India’s economy.
Jawaharlal Nehru’s Foreign Policy
Nehru wanted India to maintain friendly relations with other countries while making its own decisions. After the Second World War, the United States and the Soviet Union became the two main world powers. Many countries came under the influence of one of these powers. Nehru did not want India to depend completely on either side. He supported the idea that India should decide its foreign policy according to its own needs and interests.
This approach helped shape the Non-Aligned Movement, which brought together countries that did not want to join either major power bloc during the Cold War. Nehru also supported peace and opposed colonial rule. He believed that every country should have the right to govern itself. However, relations between India and China became difficult, and the two countries fought a war in 1962. India faced serious military challenges during the conflict. The war was a major setback for Nehru and raised questions about India’s preparation for national security. Despite this setback, his foreign policy remained an important part of India’s early years as an independent country.
Jawaharlal Nehru and Children’s Day
Jawaharlal Nehru was known for his love for children. He believed that children were the future of the country and deserved education, care, and a safe environment. His birthday, 14 November, is celebrated as Children’s Day in India. Schools organise different activities to celebrate the day and remind people about the needs and rights of children. Nehru believed that a country’s future depended on how it educated and cared for its younger generation. He also enjoyed reading and writing. Some of his well-known books include The Discovery of India, Glimpses of World History, and An Autobiography. These books help readers understand his thoughts about India, history, and the world.
Death and Legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru died on 27 May 1964 in New Delhi. He had served as India’s Prime Minister from independence in 1947 until his death. His life was closely connected with two major events in Indian history: the struggle against British rule and the building of an independent nation. Nehru helped India establish democratic practices, develop scientific institutions, expand technical education, and build industries. He also worked to give India an independent voice in international affairs.
Way Forward
Jawaharlal Nehru was an important leader in India’s freedom struggle and the first Prime Minister of independent India. He worked with other national leaders to end British rule and later helped build the foundations of a new country. He believed that education, science, industries, and democracy could help India grow. Although his government faced many challenges, his ideas influenced the country’s development for years. Nehru’s life teaches us that gaining independence is only one step towards building a strong nation. A country must also work to improve people’s lives, provide education, create opportunities, and protect democratic values.