Friday, 14 November 2025

THUS SPAKE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

 

          THUS SPAKE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

            Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (14 Nov 1889-27 May 1964) was the first prime minister of Independent India. According to an overview he was an Indian anti-colonial secular humanist, social democrat, acclaimed writer, historian, lawyer and statesman . He was indeedwho was a central figure in India during the 20th century.

            Pt. Nehru is known as a key architect of modern India. He promoted industrialization, scientific progress, and non-aligned foreign policy. He was highly broad-minded. liberal, anti-war and apostle of peaceful solutions of international conflicts. His concept of Panchsheel consists of five principles,  namely: mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. Mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful co-existence. These principles also laid the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement and got incorporated into the UN resolution on peaceful coexistence.

              Pt. Nehru is the author of several books most popular among them being: An Autobiography, The Discovery of India and The Glimpses of World History.

            Finally, two short extracts from his thoughts on India’s secularism: (1). “We talk about a secular state in India ….Some people think that it means  something opposed to religion. That obviously is not correct. What it means is that it is a state which honours all faiths equally and gives them equal opportunities; that, as a state, it does not allow itself to be attached to one faith or religion, which then becomes the state religion.’’

            (2).Our constitution lays down that we are a secular state, but it must be admitted that this is not wholly reflected in our living and thinking…We have not only to live up to the ideals proclaimed in our constitution, but make them a part of our thinking and living and thus build up a really integrated nation.

               To conclude, It is also worth mentioning that Pt. Nehru’s birthday (November 14) is celebrated as Children’s Day.

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G.R.Kanwal

14 November 2025.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

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