Essay on Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in English For Students
When asked to write a short essay on Jawaharlal Nehru, the first thing that comes to mind is that he was the first Prime Minister of independent India and a dedicated freedom fighter. He fought for the independence of India from British rule with his heart and soul. Since he is such an iconic figure, his life and contributions have long been a subject of interest, especially among school children. Children often find themselves tasked with writing a few lines about him in the form of a Jawaharlal Nehru essay.
His Early Life
These few lines about Jawaharlal Nehru just skim the surface of his early life and education. Born on 14 November 1889 in Allahabad, Nehru was a member of the renowned Nehru family. His parents were Motilal Nehru and Swaroop Rani who belonged to the esteemed Kashmiri Pandit community. Nehru’s childhood was marked by comfort and privilege, thanks to his father’s prosperous law practice. His educational journey began at home, where he received guidance from a dedicated teacher. This early exposure to learning in a nurturing environment laid the groundwork for his future academic pursuits. At the age of fifteen in 1905, Nehru set out on a transformative adventure by travelling to England. He enrolled at Harrow School, a prestigious boarding institution, where he received a traditional British education. This experience not only expanded his knowledge but also introduced him to a different culture and educational system. In 1907, he took another significant step by joining Trinity College, Cambridge. There, he pursued an Honours degree in Natural Science, further honing his intellectual abilities and critical thinking. In 1910, he joined the Inner Temple Inn and started studying law like his father. In 1912, he returned to India and tried to work as a barrister in the Allahabad High Court. He attended the annual session of the Indian National Congress in Patna and began to work for the liberation of India from British rule as a freedom fighter.
His Political Career
Greatly disturbed by the way the Indians were treated by the ruling British, he resolved to join the freedom movement and fight for the independence of India from British rule. Unable to turn a blind eye to what was happening in his country, he joined the Indian independence movement with Mahatma Gandhi. The pivotal year of 1920 saw Nehru deeply involved in the Non-cooperation Movement, a commitment that led to his frequent brushes with arrest. He worked hard to internationalise the Indian freedom struggle by getting foreign allies. He was successful in the year 1927 when the Congress Party was invited to the Congress of Oppressed Nationalities in Brussels. At the start of World War 2, under Nehru’s leadership, the Congress decided to help the British in the war, on the condition of complete independence of India after the war with a new constitution. The British didn’t agree but India did manage to get independence in 1947. Unfortunately, India was divided into two nations, Pakistan and India, with Nehru elected as the first Prime Minister of the nation. On 27th May 1962, he died due to a cardiac arrest.
His Achievements
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru is one of India’s great freedom fighters and world leaders. In the fight for independence, he was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and was inspired by his philosophy of truth and non-violence. During one of his sentences in jail, he wrote the book, ‘The Discovery of India’. He also wrote many letters to his daughter, Indira, inculcating in her a love for the rich cultural and social heritage of India and the importance of the Indian freedom struggle. His inaugural speech, ‘Tryst with Destiny’, as the first Prime Minister of independent India, is recited by people till date. He was also elected as the President of the Indian National Congress in 1929 and under his leadership, the Congress took the pledge of complete independence or Poorna Swaraj from British rule.
After India’s independence on 15th August 1947, he became the first and longest serving Prime Minister of India till 1964. He took the responsibility of leading India to success just after the independence of the country. His leadership and vision helped India to achieve prosperity, progress and a place on the international stage. He laid the foundation of democracy in India and exemplified this belief at an international level by adopting the Non-Aligned Policy as an integral part of the country’s foreign policy and pioneered the Non-Aligned Movement in the world. His belief in peaceful co-existence propelled him to sign the Panchsheel Agreement between India and China in 1961. He also supported disarmament and put in a lot of effort to create an international order of peace and harmony, leading India to a position of respect in the world.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru is known as ‘The Architect of Modern India’ due to the rich heritage of planning and development he left behind. He established many educational, medical and technical institutions like the Indian Institute of Management and the Indian Institute of Technology. He was the brainchild behind many large industrial, irrigation, agricultural and power projects like establishing steel plants, power plants and construction of dams which led to India’s technological and infrastructural development.
Lovingly referred to as ‘Chacha Nehru’ by children, his birthday is celebrated as Children’s Day in India. He is best known for being a visionary and his determination to achieve unity and liberty of the country. He firmly believed that a nation could only prosper if its children were well looked after. He encouraged the building of schools and other educational institutions across the country so that children would have access to quality education. He also believed that healthcare, sanitation and a happy childhood was the basic right of children irrespective of their caste, gender or status.
One of the most well known personalities of India, this short essay on Jawaharlal Nehru provides a glimpse into his life and contributions. Well known as a popular national and international figure, he is unanimously considered to be the architect of modern India. As the first Prime Minister of independent India, he ensured that India progressed in all fields and marched towards the global arena. Unfortunately, he succumbed to a heart attack on 27th of May, 1964.
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