Hailed as the Architect of Modern India, Nehru was also an accomplished writer in English.
"Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you is determinism; the way you play it is free will." - Jawaharlal Nehru
More than a political leader, Jawaharlal Nehru was a symbol of 'dreams' for India. First as an anti-colonial nationalist, and then as India's first Prime Minister, he had dreamt of better times and worked tirelessly to turn that dream into a reality. For that, he never shied away from taking the road less traveled. He launched several initiatives (for example, space exploration programs)to make India a global leader. And it goes without saying that he largely succeeded. Under his leadership, our country flourished enormously in terms of science and technology, social justice, economy, education, and more.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru addressing the midnight session of the Constituent Assembly of India
Born on November 14, 1889, Nehru was also a prolific writer (in English), with several popular books to his credit. These books, widely read by all generations, not only help us understand India better but also overcome the odds of life. Today, on the 135th birth anniversary of Nehru, let's have a look at some of his books that everyone must read at least once.
The list has to begin with 'The Discovery of India' as it's arguably Nehru's most popular literary work. And also, it's one of the best books if you want to learn about Indian history. It begins with ancient history, leading up to the final years of the British Raj in India.
Nehru wrote this book during his incarceration (1942–1945) at Ahmednagar Fort in present-day Maharashtra by British colonial authorities. Published in 1946 - just a year before India gained its independence - the book offers us insights into the socio-political changes that India experienced in different periods. Also, it explores everything from our art to philosophy to literature and more.
Notably, this book was the foundation of the Indian television series ‘Bharat Ek Khoj’, directed by Shyam Benegal.
Published in 1934, 'Glimpses of World History' is subtitled as 'Being further letters to his daughter, written in prison, and containing a rambling account of history for young people'.
The book is a collection of 196 letters that Nehru wrote to his young daughter, Indira, between 1930 and 1933 from various prisons in British India. He wrote all these letters in a way to introduce his daughter to world history. They contain both contemporary and personal events.
Picture taken on February 25, 1961: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (left) with his daughter Indira Gandhi in New Delhi
The book spans the history of humankind from Ancient Greece to the time of its writing. As Nehru later shared, H. G. Wells' book 'The Outline of History' was a major influence on it.
If you want to know the life and works of Nehru, there's obviously no book better than his autobiography, 'An Autobiography'. He wrote this book while he was in prison from June 1934 to February 1935. Here, he described everything from his childhood to his upbringing to his entry into politics and more.
The book has 68 chapters over 672 pages. Also titled 'Towards Freedom', it has been translated into over 30 languages.
Referring to his own ideologies, Nehru wrote in this book, "I have become a queer mixture of the East and the West, out of place everywhere, at home nowhere. Perhaps my thoughts and approach to life are more akin to what is called Western than Eastern, but India clings to me, as she does to all her children, in innumerable ways."
As already mentioned, all of Nehru's books have been widely read. As Michael Crocker noted, "Nehru's writings illustrate a cerebral life, and a power of self-discipline, altogether out of the ordinary. Words by the million bubbled up out of his fullness of mind and spirit. Had he never been prime minister of India he would have been famous as the author of the Autobiography and the autobiographical parts of The Discovery of India."
