Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of Independent India, and its longest-serving till date, being in office for more than 16 years. Nehru was a barrister by profession, and played a key role in India’s freedom movement. He is often called the architect of modern India, laying the foundations of a free, independent and modern India. Nehru is also celebrated for his charisma, and huge crowds used to turn up to hear him speak.
Born into a privileged, educated family, he was sent to England at age 15 to study. He returned with democratic and liberal values. Nehru was a socialist at heart, and his policies reflected that. Nehru promoted a pluralistic multi-party democracy in India. He implemented moderate socialist economic reforms and committed India to a policy of industrialisation. In foreign affairs, he played a leading role in establishing the Non-Aligned Movement. Under Nehru’s leadership, the Congress emerged as a catch-all party, dominating national and state-level politics and winning elections in 1951, 1957 and 1962.
Some of the highlights of his tenure as prime minister included the India-Pakistan war of 1947-48, the India-China war of 1962, the reorganisation of states along linguistic lines, the Five-Year plans setting up of IITs, IIMS, ISRO, DRDO, among others. Nehru died while in office, serving as the PM for the fourth time.
Ayodhya issue is now essentially a political issue but has religious context and title to the property ownership as the legal basis. It is best settled by mutual accommodation of all parties, failing which by a court decision and finally by law. Mediation ordered by Supreme Court should be tried earnestly, failing which Supreme Court should give its judgement on the title dispute. If the judgement is not acceptable to the majority, then Parliament should pass the bill as deemed appropriate. Enough time has elapsed on this issue and we must get on with the resolution soonest, even if everyone is not entirely agreeable to the solution. We must find ways to soothe the ruffle nerves of the aggrieved parties.
Anything to hurt Hindu sentiments is par for the ‘ secular ‘ course in India. 80% people’s wishes count for nothing.
The partition in 1947 was very simple. Hindustan for Hindus and Pakistan for Muslims. India to be controlled and managed by Hindus and Pakistan by Muslims.
I think the verdict is clear. Muslims should leave for Pakistan. Muslims have already destroyed Hindus in Pakistan. India can take what remains of Hindus. That is the only way both Pakistan and India will move forward. And PoK remains with Pakistan and India’s Kashmir with India. That is the only way both nations will move forward.
There is no reason for India or Pakistan to do business with each other. They just need to keep out of each others countries and stop playing pawn to the rest of the world.
Ayodhya temple issue is a political issue and such issues are to be solved by give and take by the parties in the conflict. Historical grudges cannot be simply put under carpet and past injustices have to be acknowledged if there is genuine wish for reconciliation. Sad part is that instead of encouraging to reach a compromise secular minded intellectuals appear to stress the legal status of the case, though it is well known that political solutions need political skills and not just activism and legal fight for some cause.