Chacha Nehru, Children’s Day & Claim for his legacy: MVR Menon
Jawaharlal
Nehru
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D.O.B:
November 14, 1889
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Jawaharlal
Nehru who left us on 27 May
1964 was our first Prime Misnister and a central figure in
Indian politics guided by his mentor Mahatma Gandhi. Nehruji is considered
to be the architect of the modern sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic
republic of India.
He was a perfect blend of
eastern values and western thinking and encouraged technological progress. But
he was also a man of letters and a great poet and wrote some famous works like,
'Glimpses of World History' and 'Discovery of India'. His letters to his
daughter, Indira, was also compiled into a book and reflects his philosophical
outlook, his compassion and above all, his tender heart.
Every Indian cherishes memories of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru:
Nehruji took office as the Prime Minister of India on 15 August, 1947 and delivered his inaugural address titled "Tryst with Destiny".
"Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity."
On 30 January 1948, when our father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi was shot by a fanatic with links to the extremist Pandit Nehru addressed the nation through radio:
"Friends and comrades, the light has gone out of our lives, and there is darkness everywhere, and I do not quite know what to tell you or how to say it. Our beloved leader, Bapu as we called him, the father of the nation, is no more. Perhaps I am wrong to say that; nevertheless, we will not see him again, as we have seen him for these many years, we will not run to him for advice or seek solace from him, and that is a terrible blow, not only for me, but for millions and millions in this country."
Chacha
Nehru and Children’s Day:
Pandit Nehru’s loved the most roses
as well as children and compared the two by referring the children as rose buds
in a garden. They should be carefully and lovingly nurtured, as they were the
future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow. Nehruji believed that the
children, both boys and girls, are the real strength of a country and the basic
foundation of society.
He was therefore called by
children as 'Chacha Nehru'. As a tribute to this great Indian and his genuine
love for children, Pandit Nehru’s birthday is celebrated in India as 'CHILDREN'S
DAY'.
The significance of Children's
Day should always be Chacha Nehru's dream of providing our children with a safe
and loving environment and giving them ample and equal opportunities through
which they can take great strides and contribute to the progress of Indian Nation.
Credit
for Nehru Legacy:
The Congress Party has plans
to celebrate Nehru's 125th anniversary on a rather large scale and it is
official that an invitation to the PM Mr. Modi is denied. Congress claims that
they have invited those who truly believe in democracy and the ideals of Nehru.
The conference on Nehru, which is to take place from November 17-18, will be
attended by leaders of various political parties from India and abroad. What is
wrong in that, Congress also will not expect an invitation for a Dr Shyama
Prasad Mookerji show by BJP?
I am surprised to see the
interest BJP is now showing in Nehru, Nehruvian policies and claim credit for
Nehru Legacy.
I have read that the noted
legal luminary and author, AG Noorani have remarked that Nehru in 1952 while
addressing a public rally on New Year Day in Kolkata said that “There can be no
greater vindication that our Constitution carefully crafted have drawn the
people of Kashmir towards us, but just imagine what would have happened in
Kashmir if the Jan Sangh or other communal party had been at the helm of
affairs,”
Likewise
The BJPs original founder Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerji has resigned from Nehru
cabinet on 8 April, 1950 and his resignation document submitted on April 14 has
forecasted that the Nehruvian policies would be disastrous for the nation and
might create a situation worse than that before the partition of the
motherland. He further stated that the country needed a nationalist and
democratic alternative to the Nehruvian Congress.
Are
they feeling jittery over losing hold on their electorates for not meeting the
promises Mr Modi made to woo them vote for BJP? He has claimed in all election
meeting that he will bring back black money which is seven times India's budget
in 100 days. Once he gets hands on the black money, India did not require looking
back for budgets for seven years. Where is the action, the court has to intervene
as force them to hand over the list which contained mostly of non-operative and
redundant accounts to SIT.
BJP
tried to take the credit for Mangalyaan and "work in Kashmir"
success! Many photos by Modi with the scientists were promoted in social media,
but even the layman knew such major projects needed years of planning and at
the time of planning and execution Modi was only a CM of Gujrat. Mr LK Advani
was correct when he described BJP veteran leader Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji as an
orator, statesman and good communicator, and Mr Modi as an event manager.
The
BJP had promised clean governance by spending huge amount for promotional
activities in print and electronic media. But when they came to power in
Maharastra through a fractured mandate they have violated the constitutional
provisions while seeking a trust vote. It is reported that Ex-CM Prithviraj
Chavan has said that “It is a black day for democracy in Maharashtra. It is sad
that the vote of confidence motion was passed by voice vote. We will note our
opposition to this move. It has raised questions on the authenticity of the
government”.
After
using Congress leaders Mahatma Gandhi and former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri on
their birth anniversary to launch the Swachh Bharat Campaign, BJP now needs the
secular tag of Pandit Nehru to win more states.
It
was a befitting rebut by Congress VP Mr Rahul Gandhi who took a dig at PM
Narendra Modi by calling Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a mere “photo opportunity”. He
further opined that the foundation of social harmony in the country has been
weakened with the spreading of “poison” of communism.
The congress president MS
Sonia Gandhi Addressing further stated on the eve of the 125th birth
anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, that had Nehru been alive, he would have asked
all Congressmen to fight “communal forces”, and become “valiant soldiers of
secularism”. She said her party would fight “ideologies, institutions and
individuals” who have been trying to demolish Nehru’s concept of “liberal
India”.
Yes, that indeed summarizes the feeling of all Congressmen!
Gandhi and Nehru in 1942
Death : In 1964, Jawaharlal Nehru suffered a
stroke and a heart attack on 27 May, 1964.
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