Leadership & legacy
Under his guidance India became an influential force within the so-called Nonaligned Nations. Jawaharlal Nehru is widely admired for his astute idealism and statesmanship. Endowed with a wonderful political outlook and futuristic thinking, Nehru in his lifetime went on to become a paramount leader of the Indian independence movement. In 1947, he became the first Prime Minister of independent India. He effectively coped with the formidable challenges of those times: the framing of a new constitution, and the establishment of the political and administrative infrastructure for a parliamentary democracy.Throughout his 17-year leadership, Nehru advocated democratic socialism and secularism and encouraged India’s industrialization beginning with the implementation of the first of his five-year plans in 1951, which emphasized the importance of increasing agricultural production. Jawaharlal Nehru played a key role in building modern India. He set up a Planning Commission, encouraged development of science and technology, and launched three successive five-year plans. His policies led to a sizable growth in agricultural and industrial production. the framing of a new constitution, and the establishment of the political and administrative infrastructure for a parliamentary democracy.
Endowed with a wonderful political outlook and futuristic thinking, Nehru in his lifetime went on to become a paramount leader of the Indian independence movement. In 1947, he became the first Prime Minister of independent India. He effectively coped with the formidable challenges of those times: the framing of a new constitution, and the establishment of the political and administrative infrastructure for a parliamentary democracy.
Throughout his 17-year leadership, Nehru advocated democratic socialism and secularism and encouraged India’s industrialization beginning with the implementation of the first of his five-year plans in 1951, which emphasized the importance of increasing agricultural production. Five Year plans allowed Nehru to put together a vision for the country’s economy for the next 5 years.
Jawaharlal Nehru played a key role in building modern India. He set up a Planning Commission, encouraged development of science and technology, and launched three successive five-year plans. Nehru propelled India towards modern age of technological advancements and innovations.
Nehru, during his term as the Prime Minister, brought forward radical changes in domestic, international, economic, agricultural and social policies. Under his administration, he established numerous basic and heavy industries, which he believed were fundamental for Indian economy to take a step forward towards development and modernization. He advocated for a mixed economy where government controlled public sector co-existed peacefully with the private sector.
A passionate advocate of education, Nehru believed that educating the young India was imperative for the country’s future growth. For the same, he established numerous institutions of higher learning, including All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the Indian Institutes of Technology, the Indian Institutes of Management and the National Institutes of Technology. He even included free and compulsory primary education to all children in his five-year plan.
Furthermore, it was Nehru who laid the stepping stone for the foundation of the National Defense Academy of India and the Atomic Energy Commission of India (AEC). Despite being a follower of peace and non-violence, he realized the importance of defense and tried to equip the country with the best modern equipment and defense methods to safeguard the freedom of the nation.
He believed in non-alignment as a guiding principle of India's foreign policy so that India is assured of having the freedom of choice in making decisions responsive to its national interests without being subject to external influences. Under his guidance India became an influential force within the so-called Nonaligned Nations. Nehru initiated the non-aligned movement (NAM) professing neutrality. The NAM was aimed at being neutral and not joining any of the two power blocks in that era - the US and the USSR.
Nehru strongly supported the inclusion of People’s Republic of China in the United Nations to establish warm and friendly relations with the neighboring country. The pacifist policies of Nehru towards China paid no result as the border disputes led to the Sino-Indian war in 1962, which ended when China declared a ceasefire on November 20, 1962 and announced its withdrawal from the disputed area in the Himalayas.
Jawaharlal Nehru is widely admired for his astute idealism and statesmanship. Furthermore, Nehru greatly professed democratic value and equality for all, irrespective of caste, color or creed.
Endowed with a wonderful political outlook and futuristic thinking, Nehru in his lifetime went on to become a paramount leader of the Indian independence movement. In 1947, he became the first Prime Minister of independent India. He effectively coped with the formidable challenges of those times: the framing of a new constitution, and the establishment of the political and administrative infrastructure for a parliamentary democracy.
Throughout his 17-year leadership, Nehru advocated democratic socialism and secularism and encouraged India’s industrialization beginning with the implementation of the first of his five-year plans in 1951, which emphasized the importance of increasing agricultural production. Five Year plans allowed Nehru to put together a vision for the country’s economy for the next 5 years.
Jawaharlal Nehru played a key role in building modern India. He set up a Planning Commission, encouraged development of science and technology, and launched three successive five-year plans. Nehru propelled India towards modern age of technological advancements and innovations.
Nehru, during his term as the Prime Minister, brought forward radical changes in domestic, international, economic, agricultural and social policies. Under his administration, he established numerous basic and heavy industries, which he believed were fundamental for Indian economy to take a step forward towards development and modernization. He advocated for a mixed economy where government controlled public sector co-existed peacefully with the private sector.
A passionate advocate of education, Nehru believed that educating the young India was imperative for the country’s future growth. For the same, he established numerous institutions of higher learning, including All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the Indian Institutes of Technology, the Indian Institutes of Management and the National Institutes of Technology. He even included free and compulsory primary education to all children in his five-year plan.
Furthermore, it was Nehru who laid the stepping stone for the foundation of the National Defense Academy of India and the Atomic Energy Commission of India (AEC). Despite being a follower of peace and non-violence, he realized the importance of defense and tried to equip the country with the best modern equipment and defense methods to safeguard the freedom of the nation.
He believed in non-alignment as a guiding principle of India's foreign policy so that India is assured of having the freedom of choice in making decisions responsive to its national interests without being subject to external influences. Under his guidance India became an influential force within the so-called Nonaligned Nations. Nehru initiated the non-aligned movement (NAM) professing neutrality. The NAM was aimed at being neutral and not joining any of the two power blocks in that era - the US and the USSR.
Nehru strongly supported the inclusion of People’s Republic of China in the United Nations to establish warm and friendly relations with the neighboring country. The pacifist policies of Nehru towards China paid no result as the border disputes led to the Sino-Indian war in 1962, which ended when China declared a ceasefire on November 20, 1962 and announced its withdrawal from the disputed area in the Himalayas.
Jawaharlal Nehru is widely admired for his astute idealism and statesmanship. Furthermore, Nehru greatly professed democratic value and equality for all, irrespective of caste, color or creed.