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Jawaharlal Nehru
Serving as independent India’s first prime minister from 1947 to 1964.
Indian independence · Non-alignment
- Born
- 14 November 1889
- Birthplace
- Allahabad, British India
- Died
- 27 May 1964
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Jawaharlal Nehru was an Indian independence leader and prime minister. He helped build the new republic’s parliamentary institutions and promoted scientific development, state-led industry and a foreign policy outside the Cold War blocs.
Early life
An Allahabad household
His father, Motilal Nehru, was a lawyer who also became a leading nationalist politician.
Education in Britain
He attended Harrow and Cambridge, then trained in law at the Inner Temple.
Career
- 1912
Returning to India
He returned as a lawyer and increasingly joined nationalist politics.
- 1929
Congress president
He presided over the Congress session that demanded complete independence.
- 1947
First prime minister
He took office at independence amid Partition and mass displacement.
- 1962
War with China
India’s military defeat challenged his foreign and defence policies.
Public work
The Discovery of India
Written during imprisonment, the book explored India’s history and culture.
Economic planning
His governments pursued five-year plans, public industry and scientific institutions.
Non-Aligned Movement
He helped establish a movement seeking independence from the rival Cold War power blocs.
Beyond public life
Family
He married Kamala Kaul; their daughter Indira Gandhi later became prime minister.
Letters from prison
His letters to Indira explained history and politics while political imprisonment kept them apart.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Photo: Harry Pot. CC0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
