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Modi-Series-VIII 25 Nov 2014
The world said ‘this was a man’
Jawaharlal Nehru’s great achievement was to hold the ship of state firm
amid the turbulent waters of the Partition process
The first great achievement of Nehru after Independence, therefore, was
to hold the ship of state firm amid the turbulent waters of the Partition
process, despite predictions of the prophets of doom, including Winston
Churchill, who said that after the British left India, would Balkanise and
break up into a dozen units. The second great task was, after centuries of
foreign rule, for India to get itself a new Constitution. Himself an impeccable
parliamentarian, Nehru not only took a keen interest in the framing of the
Constitution but also attended Parliament for long hours, answered questions
and in particular spoke on foreign relations, a portfolio he had kept with
himself.
Knitting these separate units into
a single State was a massive task, the main credit for which goes to Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel. The non-violent integration of so many feudal states into a
democracy was surely unprecedented in world history. Although Nehru left this
area mainly to Patel, he closely monitored the whole process. Nehru was deeply
committed to the development of science and what he called the scientific
temper, an attitude devoid of superstition and blind faith. For this purpose he
had the foresight to set up the Indian Institutes of Technology in major cities
around the country.
A major triumph consisted in his
leadership of what came to be known as the Non-Aligned Movement, along with
President Nasser of Egypt, President Tito of Yogoslavia and Archbishop makarios
of Cyprus. President Sukarno of Indonesia was also involved, although his
actions were often erratic. The whole episode caused Nehru immense shock and
embarrassment. He was obliged to sack his favourite Krishna Menon. The failure
of the whole Panchsheel approach to China was something that shattered Nehru’s
psyche. He never really recovered from this setback and passed away within less
than two years thereafter.
The people of India held Nehru in special affection which is reflected in
his last will and testament, where he says: “If any people choose to think of
me, then I should like them to say this was a man who, with all his mind and
heart, loved India and the Indian people. And they, in turn were indulgent to
him and gave him of their love most abundantly and extravagantly.”
A
Tribute to Nehru on his 125th Birth Anniversary
Dr.
Karan Singh-TOI-14 Nov 2014
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