Biography of Jawahar Lal Nehru: The First Prime Minister of India

Jawahar Lal Nehru was an Indian anti-colonial nationalist. He was central to India in the mid-20th century. He led the Indian nationalist movement. This was particularly the case in the 1930s/1940s. In 1947, he became the first prime minister of India. 

Nehru promoted parliamentary democracy. He supported secularism. His influence shaped India as a modern nation. In international affairs, Nehru kept India neutral. He avoided aligning with either bloc of the Cold War. Nehru was a respected author. He wrote several books while in prison. 

Biography of Jawahar Lal Nehru

Full Name	Jawahar Lal Nehru
Known as	Pandit Nehru
Date of Birth	14/11/1889
Age (As of 1964)	74 Years
Death	27/05/1964
Hometown	Allahabad, India
Nationality	Indian
Religion	Hindu
Caste	Kashmiri Pandit
Profession	Lawyer, Political Leader, Author
Weight	N/A
Height	5 feet 10 inches
Coach/Mentor	Mahatma Gandhi
Net Worth	N/A
Marital Status	Married
Political Party	Indian National Congress
Marriage Date	8th February 1916
Political Party	Indian National Congress
Education	Harrow School, Trinity College, Cambridge, and Inner Temple

Who is Jawahar Lal Nehru?

Jawahar Lal Nehru was the first PM of India after independence. People fondly called him ‘Pandit Nehru.’ He is known for his role in shaping modern India. He laid the foundation for a democratic state. Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi were good friends. In the Indian National Congress, he had a major influence. He also wrote a lot. The legacy of Jawahar Lal Nehru is nuanced, containing both noteworthy accomplishments and critiques. This is particularly the case regarding his economic policies/ political centralisation.

Early Life, Family, Education

Jawahar Lal Nehru was born in Allahabad. His birthday falls on November 14, 1889. He was home-schooling early on. At fifteen, he went to England, where he spent two years at Harrow. Then, he studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University. He earned a Tripos degree. Later, he became a barrister from Inner Temple.

Nehru returned to India in 1912. He joined politics soon after. As a student, he was interested in foreign-ruled nations’ struggles. The Irish Sinn Fein movement caught his attention. He was drawn to India’s independence struggle.

Nehru was married to Kamala Kaul. The biography of Jawaharlal Nehru says that they got married on 8th February 1916. The couple had one daughter, Indira Priyadarshini Nehru. She later became the first female Prime Minister of India.

Family Table

Father’s Name	Motilal Nehru
Mother’s Name	Swarup Rani Nehru
Brother/Sister’s Name	Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Krishna Hutheesing
Wife’s Name	Kamala Nehru
Children’s Name	Indira Gandhi

Career

Jawahar Lal Nehru’s journey in Indian politics began with his return to the country in 1912. He promptly joined the Indian National Congress. This marked the start of his influential political career.

Mahatma Gandhi greatly influenced Nehru. Mahatma Gandhi influenced Nehru greatly. Nehru joined the Non-Cooperation Movement. He also joined the Civil Disobedience Movement. These were important for India’s freedom.

1929 was the year of a major milestone for Nehru, especially in terms of his political career. He was elected as the President of the INC. However, this was not just a one-time occurrence. Nehru held this prestigious position multiple times throughout his life.

1947 was important for Nehru and India. India became independent, and Nehru became Prime Minister. This role defined his later life.

Nehru had a clear vision for India, especially as the first prime minister of the newly independent India. He implemented really crucial policies. Most of these aimed at transforming the country into a modern nation. 

Famous For

Nehru wanted India to be modern. He wanted it secular and democratic. Pandit Nehru helped write India’s Constitution. He also implemented tons of policies that laid the foundation for industrialisation as well as economic growth. Nehru was also a prolific writer. This is evident through his autobiography .’

Nehru was committed to democracy and socialism. He believed in the importance of scientific temper. He advocated for these principles throughout his political career.

Achievements

Nehru wanted India to have planned economic development. The foundation for this was the successive five-year plans. He put a lot of emphasis on industrialisation and self-reliance. These laid the groundwork for India’s future economic growth.

Nehru also made significant efforts in promoting education. He also knew that scientific research was pivotal in building India’s intellectual capital. He established several premier institutions and universities. The renowned IITs and IIMs were his brain-children. 

• 1929: Elected President of the Indian National Congress.
• 15th August 1947: Became India’s first Prime Minister.
• 1950: Helped draft the Indian Constitution.
• 1955: Received Bharat Ratna.

Death

Nehru died on May 27, 1964. The reason for it was a heart attack. His death marked the end of an era. However, his ideas still inspire people. His work definitely changed India’s society and economy.

Unknown Facts

• An avid reader, Nehru owned a vast personal library. He spent countless hours immersed in books on various subjects.
• Nehru cared about children. His birthday is celebrated as Children’s Day.
• He led the Non-Aligned Movement. This was during the Cold War. He wanted peace between countries.
• The biography of Jawahar Lal Nehru tells us that he wrote letters to Indira. These were called “Letters from a Father to His Daughter.”

Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru was more than just a politician. He is a historical figure idolised by many. He also had a huge role in helping India take its own reigns. Another figure who helped India gain freedom was Mahatma Gandhi. Want to know more about him? Read more about him in the biography of Mahatma Gandhi.

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