Jawaharlal Nehru

Profession: 1st Prime Minister of India

Nationality:

Biography: Jawaharlal Nehru was an Indian independence activist and the first Prime Minister of India, serving from 1947 until his death in 1964. A central figure in Indian politics before and after independence, Nehru was a protégé of Mahatma Gandhi and played a pivotal role in India's struggle for independence from British colonial rule. His tenure as Prime Minister shaped India's path in the post-independence era, both in its internal development and its foreign policy.

Nehru was born into a wealthy Kashmiri Brahmin family in Allahabad. He was educated at home and in Britain, where he attended Harrow School and later, Cambridge University. He then trained as a barrister at the Inner Temple in London. Upon his return to India, he was drawn into the Indian National Congress and the nationalist struggle against British rule.

Under Gandhi's guidance, Nehru became a prominent leader in the Congress Party. He actively participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement in the 1920s and the Civil Disobedience Movement in the 1930s. Nehru was imprisoned several times by the British authorities for his role in the independence movement.

As Prime Minister, Nehru worked to shape a modern, secular, and democratic India. He emphasized social and economic development, launching plans to industrialize the economy, improve agricultural productivity, and expand access to education and healthcare. His government also undertook major projects to build infrastructure and develop heavy industry.

Nehru's foreign policy was marked by the principles of non-alignment during the Cold War. He was a founding figure of the Non-Aligned Movement, advocating for an independent course for India in international affairs, as free as possible from the influence of the major Cold War powers.

Nehru was also a noted writer and thinker, and his works, including The Discovery of India and Glimpses of World History, reflect his insight into Indian history and culture, as well as world affairs. He also wrote Letters from a Father to His Daughter (1929) while he was imprisoned.

Born: November 14, 1889
Birthplace: Allahabad, North-Western Provinces, British India

Generation: Lost Generation
Star Sign: Scorpio

Died: May 27, 1964 (aged 74)
Cause of Death: Heart attack