Jawaharlal Nehru

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU 1951-1964

Challenges before Nehru- to achieve massive reconstruction of polity and economy, advancement towards basic objectives of democracy, civil liberties, secularism, a scientific and international outlook, planning with socialism, to alleviate poverty and unemployment, land reforms, consolidation of the nation, solutions of language and tribal problem, form a new electoral policy and independent foreign policy
How he proceeded?

• 1951-1952 first general election held on basis of universal adult franchise(21 or + age). 
• Some critics said a backward country like India can only suited to benevolent dictatorship.
• Election held according to directive principles and independent election commission as also made.
• Sukumar Sen was appointed as first chief election commissioner.
• People’s response to new political order was tremendous.
• Establishment of democratic institution
• Press having free play even when it criticized government severely.
• Even court was independent when it turned down legislation of agrarian reform.
• Both ruling and opposition parties played its role well in parliament.
• Nehru put states and centre at cordial terms hence he did not force states to effect land reform just to keep federalism strong.(only president rule in Kerala in 1959 was exception)
• But this tendency somehow harmed to the subjects of health, education, agricultural in states.
• Although Nehru at the same time made centre strong and even it was easy to do this as ruling part was same in both centre and states.
• Nehru kept state’s supremacy over military as he was worried with its coup in Pakistan France and Germany.(hence low expenditure on it)
• Nehru was critic of bureaucracy and ics but gradually he understood the Patel and accepted the administration system.
• This was also a time when evil of corruption started in India.
• His major achievement in field of science. First national science laboratory and national physical laboratory was laid on in 1947.
• In 1952 first of five institute of technology was set up on patterned of Massachusetts IT
• India was country of the world to recognize importance of nuclear energy in constructing measures hence set up a ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION in 1948with HOMI J. BHABHA. Latter on separate deptt. Was laid on.
• Asia’s first nuclear reactor was set up in trombay (Bombay)
• In 1962 space research started by setting up INDIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR SPACE RESEARCH AND ROCKET LAUNCHING FACILITY AT THUMBA.
• Krishna menon as defence min. initiated defence research.
• Under the article 36 of DPSP welfare policy is promoted on socialistic pattern of society.
• This phrase was officially accepted by congress session at avadi and latter on adopted in the objective of third five year plan.Land reforms, planned economy development, rapid expansion of public sector, labor legislation, right to form trade union , go on strike, security of employment, provision of health insurance, distribution of wealth through progressive taxes, expansion of education etc.
• Anti untouchability law in 1955, reservation in education and employment for sc/st’s.
• 1951 Hindu code bill in favor of women demands for right. However due to protest from jansangh and Hindu communal sectors bill was passed in four separate parts in the second term of Nehru.
• Bill introduced monogamy, right of divorce to both men and women, raised the age of consent and marriage and gave right to maintenance and to inherit family property.
• But a uniform civil code could not be enacted (shahbano case)
• In 1951 literacy was only 16.6%(6% in rural).Vast efforts were done b government that increased enrollment in primary secondary education in both girls and boys. By 1964 total no of universities were increased from 18 to 54.But behind the success story major weakness was decline in educational standardsTarget of free and compulsory education was shifted from 1961 to 1966 and then to distant future.
• For rural uplift community development and panchayati raj institution program was started in 1952 and 1959.(much cooperated by U.S. during cold war)
• Despite of good results it was suffered with bureaucracy.(hence balwant rai committee in 1957)On the recommendation from 1959 panchayati raj was adopted as self governance in all over country trough three level system.But cooperative movement and these programs could not succeed according to expectation as it ignored the class division of Indian society so major benefits were reached to only upper class.

FOREIGN POLICY OF NEHRU

• Nehru realized that India should speak in her own voice on current situations.
• Hence NAM came in row. At the same time India neither joined Bagdad pact, manila treaty, SEATO, CENTO WHICH JOINED THE COUNTRIES OF WEST AND EAST ASIA TO THE WESTERN power BLOC.
• But NAM was not immoral neutrality it was a freedom to decide what was right or wrong then take stand in favour of right.
• We helped Indonesia from Dutch colonies in 1948 then participated in Afro-Asian conference.In 1961 Belgrade conference it supported disarmament and peace
• The major aim of our policy was to promote interest of Indian economy hence we maintained good relation with both U.S. (technology in green revolution) and SOVIET UNION (largest arm exporter).
• Active membership in various UN body IMF WORLD BANK etc and in peacekeeping force and in commonwealth institution.