GK 101 Lecture 2, Unit 1
The Nehru Years
Who was Jawaharlal Nehru?
Son of Motilal Nehru
Graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge
Practiced Law in Allahabad High Court
Married to Kamla Nehru (nee Kaul)
Born a Hindu, preferred to be considered an
ATHEIST religion holding India back
Anointed by Gandhi as his successor in 1941
Became first PM of India, unable to broker a deal
with MA Jinnah, leading to Partition
Nehru vs Patel
Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel rivals and
partners with deep mutual admiration
Disagreements on minorities
Opposite views on economic policy
Patel was Nehrus only credible rival in stature
Patel proposed Rajendra Prasad as President
instead of C Rajagopalachari
Nehru not in favor of Hindi as official language
First General Election
Participated in by Congress, KMPP (J B Kripalanis
Kisan Majdoor Praja Party), Socialist Party
(started by JP Narayan), Jana Sangh, CPI
Sukumar Sen first Election Commissioner
ICS officer of 1921, mathematician from London U
17.6 crore eligible voters, 85% illiterate
This was reason for pictorial symbols
28 lakh women struck off the list
State Assembly and Lok Sabha together
Questions - 1
What is the relationship between lakh, crore
and million?
100 lakhs = 1crore, 10 lakhs = 1 million
Which year was Indias first Election held?
1952
What was the age of eligibility for voting?
21
Socialist vs Capitalist
Crux of ideology difference b/w Nehru-Patel
Socialism advocated by Russia, China
everything owned by community (govt.)
small difference in wages
Called Leftism, Welfarism, moderate Marxism
Capitalism model of the West (US, UK)
Merit based system, everyone as per capacity
Focus on wealth creation, assumed percolation
Great encouragement on private sector
Electoral System Options & Criticism
FIRST PAST THE POST Indian system
INC 364 seats of 489 in LS, 2247 of 3280 in SA
45% and 42% vote share respectively
Compare BJPs 31% vote share for 282 seats
MAXIMUM VOTE SHARE American system
No constituency seat system, state-based nos.
1:1 party-candidate alignment
Almost impossible for lower vote-share winner
Questions 2
Who holds record for biggest election win?
Anil Basu (CPM) in 2004, 5.92 lakh votes
What are the lengths of terms for Indian PM
and USA President?
5 years, 4 years
What is the limit on how many times an Indian
can become Prime Minister?
No Limit
Economic Achievements
Mixed policy, PSUs with private sector
Greater bent towards PSUs
Steel Plants at Bokaro, Rourkela (USSR, FRG)
Industrial growth 7% from 1950-65
India 7th largest industrial country
Import substitution industrialization
Preferred for developing nations
Fall of share of trade from 1.4% to 0.5% (1981-90)
Agriculture
Land reforms banning giant land ownership
Could not redistribute existing holdings
Co-operative farming failed under large
owners opposition
69% of country working to produce 21% of GDP
Set up agricultural Univs led Green Rev.
Started culture of agricultural research
State Reorg, National Language
Started in 1953, abolished concept of province
and state
Reorganized states on linguistic basis
Madras province had Telugu, made into AP
Hindi was to be official language in 1965,
widespread riots, protests
Backtracked commitment in Constitution
Became discretionary for states
Social Policies
Strongest believer in education
IITs, RECs, AIIMS set up during this time
24000 schools set up in villages, free primary
Free milk & meals to combat malnutrition
Caste discrimination criminalized
Reservations in education, govt. service
Article 44 Secularism written by Nehru,
promises Uniform Civil Code
Not applicable to Muslims in inheritance, wedding
Foreign Policy
Co-founded Non-Aligned Movement
Established Atomic Energy Commission under
Homi Bhabha
Great ambition to develop nuclear weapons
Believed in proving self, then go Gandhian
Refused plebiscite in Kashmir in 1953
Leaned towards Russia on principle
Signed Panchsheel with China natural ally
Panchsheel, China and the End
Mutual Respect, Non-Aggression, NonInterference, Equality, Peace
Long-pending border dispute around
uninhabited regions in Arunachal
Several discussions, largely friendly
Relations went bad after India granted asylum
to Dalai Lama
Heartbroken after the war, died in 1964
Questions 3
What was Jawaharlal Nehrus fathers
profession?
Barrister at Law
What was Jawaharlal Nehrus favorite flower?
Rose
Which lady was Jawaharlal Nehru said to have
a special friendship?
Edwina Mountbatten
