Nehru’s Legacy

Core content of Indian Democracy

Today is the the first Prime Minister’s 50th death anniversary. As a 11 year old in 1964 during the summer vacation, not having any knowledge of Nehru cried with tears in my eyes on his sudden death- simply imitating the sentiments of National loss and the future of the country without him at the helm. That was the extent of his influence/impact or charisma of Nehru on the people of India. Today a 10 year old or even less younger can search on the net may be on his dad/mother’s phone and know about any thing in the world including politicians of consequence or not. For sure Nehru was not a politician but a statesman and leader.

Amazing progress the world has made fortunately India non excluded during the past half a century for which the early seeds were sown by Nehru. In spite of belonging to the most elitist rich family of India of those days Nehruji as a true disciple of Gandhiji the most modest and simple leader, understood the ethos and values of the diverse Indian society more particularly the so called Hindu society. He fully understood the fundamental essence of Hindu philosophy that it is highly flexible and inclusive school of thought and not certainly dangerous inspite of differences between Babu Rajendra Prasad, the first president of India. If the democratic edifice of India is intact inspite of teeming millions joining the voterlist year after year, it is singularly because of the visionary that Nehru was. The transition of power from one set of people to another would not have been so smooth but for the foundations laid and so assiduously nurtured for more than over 17 years by Nehru. It was he, after the first speech made by Atal Behari Vajapayee belonging to the then opposition in the Loksabha congratulated and said that he was seeing a future Prime Minister in Mr. Vajapayee. That was the leadership of instinct. The nation will for ever remember Nehru for the un parallelled contribution to the growth of Indian Democracy.

In the euphoria of the recent hate campaign by the opponents on the Nehru family also the leaders have not condemned Nehru but the subsequent ordinary Indira Gandhi and mediocre siblings of her for misgovernance and malgovernance. If today Congress party is reduced to below 50 it is because of this mediocrity encouraged and pampered subsequently.