I know Nehru’s legacy as a person, patriot, freedom fighter, and Prime Minister has been examined to death. By both his admirers and arch-critics. In the Indian landscape of the history-political books, the Nehru-as-God books severely outnumber those that critically examine him. The “critical editions” are mostly not subject to review. For example, a book like Genesis and Growth of Nehruism still remains in cold storage, inaccessible in print, and generally ignored. For all purposes, criticism of Nehru remains confined to stray, forgotten articles, or preserved in a few excellent blogs. Which is really ironical because in his time, Nehru was subject to scathing, and repeated attacks both within and outside the Congress party. What then explains the fact that every new book on Nehru (written by Indian hagiographers historians) shows him in nothing less than halogen light?
To answer that question, we need to acknowledge that we rarely have books in India that give an “outsider’s” perspective on Nehru. But first, it is necessary to define “outsider” here to set the context accurately. An outsider is somebody who has the benefit of hindsight (though not necessarily), might have interacted with Nehru, has not actually participated in the freedom movement, and most importantly, views Nehru and other leaders as human beings who were allowed to have their weak and dark sides.
Michael Edwardes provides this outsider-perspective in his excellent Nehru, a Political Biography. Check that Amazon.com link. You need to scroll down to locate Michael Edwardes. I had to order a used copy of the book.
The book is a must-read for all the aforementioned reasons. But the more important reason is it tells the true story of the freedom struggle, an utterly different narrative than that propagated by the textbooks written at the behest of the Congress party.
Over the course of several days, I shall present a serialized account of this book.
Postscript: To those readers wondering why I asked if the real story of the Indian freedom struggle been told, this post and those that follow it, is partly the answer.
Impressive blog. Look forward to more such posts.
I will try for a copy of the book.
Sai
Great! Looking forward to the series.
PI.
Actually, 90% of world history is western oriented hagiography.. Communist movement (in which Nehru was a mere data point) originated out of specific western agenda for Asia. Just look at who is supporting Communist/”Dalitist”/Leftist ideologues in India today; their entire output is a reflection of western orientalist sensibilities regarding Asia – plus all the key ideologues are esconced in western “academic” institutions (eg Romila’s Kluge chair). One Paul Warburg even financed the 1917 Communist Revolution deposing the “native autocrat”; same was repeated in Nepal recently.
As you have said most of Nehru related literature was written by Hagiographers. So it is a worthless account of a worthless man.
I have never been a fan of Nehru or his “visions” for India and always doubted whether Gandhi and his struggle really won us our independence. I think your posts from that book will give better picture. Thanks in advance, Sandeep. Waiting eagerly for your posts on this..