Jawaharlal Nehru - Politician

India's first prime minister shaped the world's largest democracy for sixteen years after independence, steering a newly freed nation toward secularism, science, and a third path between Cold War superpowers while writing books that carried his vision of modern India to readers everywhere.

Politicians Writer / Author Literature Politics Stand Up 20th Century

A life in dates

202513×The anniversary of their birth, on 14 November.14 November 2025What this moment rests on, 13 times the usual readers on 14 November 2025See the moment1965Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International UnderstandingNamed after himMore about this, Award1964Died27 May 19641962Named Minister of DefenceOffice31 October to 14 November 19621956Named Minister of FinanceOffice24 July to 30 August 19561955Bharat RatnaAward1947Named Minister of External AffairsOffice15 August 1947 to 27 May 1964Named Prime Minister of IndiaOffice15 August 1947 to 27 May 1964“The present objective is Kashmir . The next declared objective is Patiala , East Punjab and Delhi . “ On to Delhi " is the cry all over West Punjab.”In their words15 August 1947quoted in Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru: 15 August 1947 to 31 ... Jawaharlal Nehru, ‎Madhavan K. Palat · 1986 · ‎, quoted in The GreatRead the whole statement

1946Named Member of the Negotiating Committee of the Constituent Assembly of IndiaOffice21 December 1946Named Member of the Constituent Assembly of IndiaOffice6 July 1946 to 24 January 19501936“The most effective pose is one in which there seems to be the least of posing, and Jawahar had learned well to act without the paint and powder of an actor ...”In their wordsArticle in Modern Review (1936) by a pseudonymous author signing himself "Chanakya", later revealed to have been Nehru himself; as quotedRead the whole statement

1934“They fought because they were paid for it; they were not interested very much in the conquest of Greece. The Athenians on the other hand, fought for their freedom.”In their wordsOn the defeat of the forces of Darius the Great of Persia at the Battle of Marathon, in Glimpses of World History; Being Further Letters toRead the whole statement

“Japan had come to terms with Russia because of her difficulties, but this did not mean approval of communism.”In their wordsGlimpses of World History (1934-1949)Read the whole statement

“Marx did not preach class conflict. He showed that in fact it existed, and had always existed in some form or other.”In their wordsGlimpses of World History (1934-1949)Read the whole statement

1910“My chief reason for wishing to go to Oxford is [that] Cambridge is becoming too full of Indians.”In their words15 July 1910J. Nehru. Letter, Jawahar to father , London, July 15, 1910. SWJN:1, 76-77 - Quoted in Stanley Wolpert: Nehru: a Tryst with Destiny, pageRead the whole statement

1889Born14 November 1889

Photos 8

Jawaharlal Nehru, circa 1925

1961.10.08 Corner Stone Laid by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Allahabad, Anand Bhawan 6 (40151268532) (cropped)

Allahabad, Anand Bhawan 6 (40151268532)

Allahabad, Anand Bhawan 6 - sweet baby (40184172781)

Commonwealth Prime Ministers in London 1949

CONGRESS MAIN LEADERS AFTER MEETING IN CALCUTTA. BHAG SINGH LOHARA ON THE RIGHT CORNER

Congress Seva Dal 1932 with Jawaharlal Nehru

In their own words 10

Jawaharlal Nehru

10 statements, newest first

The present objective is Kashmir . The next declared objective is Patiala , East Punjab and Delhi . “ On to Delhi " is the cry all over West Punjab.
Aug 15, 1947, quoted in Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru: 15 August 1947 to 31 ... Jawaharlal Nehru, ‎Madhavan K. Palat · 1986 · ‎, quoted in The Great, Own words
The most effective pose is one in which there seems to be the least of posing, and Jawahar had learned well to act without the paint and powder of an actor ...
1936, Article in Modern Review (1936) by a pseudonymous author signing himself "Chanakya", later revealed to have been Nehru himself; as quoted, Own words
Every war waged by imperialist powers will be an imperialist war whatever the excuses put forward; therefore we must keep out of it.
Apr 1936, At the Lucknow session of the Congress in April 1936, in his presidential address. Quoted from Elst, Koenraad (2018). Why I killed the, Own words

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Awards

Bharat Ratna1955

Bintang Jasa

Doctor Honoris Causa of Keiō University

Honorary Citizen of Belgrade

Family

Parents

Jawaharlal Nehru

Partners

Spouse Kamala Nehru

Child Indira Gandhi

Brothers and sisters

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About this person

The son of a prominent nationalist lawyer, Nehru was educated at Harrow and Cambridge, trained as a barrister, then returned to India where national politics consumed him. He rose through the Indian National Congress in the 1920s with Gandhi's backing, called for complete independence as Congress president in 1929, and led the party to sweep the 1937 provincial elections. After years in British prisons - including a stretch following the 1942 Quit India movement - he emerged to find Muslim League power ascendant under Jinnah and partition looming. Sworn in as prime minister on 15 August 1947 after delivering his "Tryst with Destiny" speech, Nehru spent the next sixteen years building parliamentary democracy, championing secular pluralism, and founding the Non-Aligned Movement to keep India out of superpower camps. He won three consecutive elections and died in office from a heart attack in 1964.

Country

India

Politicians from India 6

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