Pandit Nehru
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the only son of Pandit Motilal Nehru. He was born in Allahabad on November 14, 1889. When you are the son of a famous father, your childhood is bound to be somewhat different from that of many others. So was the case with this little boy. The only son of prosperous parents, he was pampered to a large extent. His two sisters were born much later, after he turned eleven. Therefore, his early years were lonesome although there were many cousins in the house, they were much older than him. What he missed most was the company of children at school. He was not sent to any kindergarten or primary school but was taught at home by governesses or private tutors. This is not to say that the little boy was unhappy. Far from it. He enjoyed a sheltered life and loved both his parents dearly. He saw his father as the embodiment of strength, courage and cleverness, and dreamed of becoming a man like him. He received his early education from private tutors. He was later admitted to Harrow Public School in England and then moved on to Cambridge. He got a degree in law in 1912. He returned to India and practiced law at Allahabad High Court.
Though he was a lawyer, his heart was in politics. He wanted to free India from the British rule, so he joined Gandhiji in the struggle for freedom. He was elected President of the Indian National Congress in the 1929. He served the Congress for many years as General Secretary.
Panditji was married to Kamla Kaul and was the father of Indira Gandhi. He went to jail many times, for long periods, during the freedom struggle and wrote several books from there. His Letters from a Father to his, Daughter written for Indira Gandhi is one of his more famous books.
He always wore a red rose on his shirt button. He loved children dearly. Children lovingly called him “Chacha Nehru” and his birthday is observed as ‘Children’s Day’ or `Bal Divas‘. Pandit Nehru died on May 27, 1964, leaving behind a grief-stricken nation.
