Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru (14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964) was an Indian statesman and freedom fighter who became the first Prime Minister of independent India, serving from 1947 until his death in 1964. A leader of the Indian National Congress, he was the son of Motilal Nehru and studied law in London, being called to the bar in 1912. He rose to prominence in the independence movement and served as Congress president in 1929–30.

In the independence movement, Nehru advocated secular, inclusive nationalism, social reform, and modernization. He helped shape Congress strategy during the non-cooperation and civil disobedience campaigns and later became a leading architect of India’s constitutional and democratic framework. He wrote The Discovery of India (1946), and emphasized science, education, and planning as pillars of national development.

As prime minister, he guided India through independence and early state-building. He oversaw the drafting of the Constitution by the Constituent Assembly, promoted a mixed economy and planning, and established the Planning Commission (1950) and several higher-education and science initiatives, including the Indian Institutes of Technology.

Foreign policy: Nehru championed non-alignment and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence (Panchsheel). He led India's non-aligned diplomacy at forums like the Bandung Conference (1955) and steered ties with both blocs, while facing border tensions with China that culminated in the 1962 war.

Legacy: Nehru's tenure shaped India's democratic institutions and secular state. His emphasis on education, science, and internationalism influenced later generations, including his daughter Indira Gandhi, who succeeded him as prime minister.