Author: M J Akbar
Publisher: Roli Books
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 609
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8174362053
Description
Drawing on a wealth of material released from British Government records and on Nehru's own papers, Akbar looks at Nehru's life against the background of volatile political forces that have dominated twentieth-century India, and has written a superb biography.
Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, was the ideological and political heir of Gandhi. Building on the Mahatma's foundations, as leader both of the Congress and of independent India from 1947, Nehru shaped the new state: his story is India's story.
Born in Allahabad on 14 November 1889, Nehru was a Kashmiri Brahmin, a member of India's most aristocratic caste. M J Akbar examines with great perception the social and cultural milieu in which Nehru grew up, giving a fascinating picture of the man behind the public figure. Drawing on a wealth of material released from British Government records and on Nehru's own papers, Akbar also looks at Nehru's own papers, Akbar also looks at Nehru's life against the background of volatile political forces that have dominated twentieth-century India, providing a unique insight into the years of struggle, loss and ultimately, achievement. The last hundred years have seen the growth of a new independent nation of vast complexity, both political and social: the architect of that nation was Jawaharlal Nehru.
One of India's foremost journalism, M J Akbar has written a superb biography.
Contents
Acknowledgements
The Pandits
Culture and Conflict in the Nineteenth Century
The Lawyers
The Options
Growing Up
Harrow
The Rise of Hindu Nationalism
A British Response - in League with the Muslims
Europe, 1907-12: Taking It Easy
Three Muslims, Three Paths to 1947
A Taste of Gandhi
Stumbling towards Destiny
Politics among the Peasants
Conversion of the Nehrus:' What a Fall, My countrymen!'
Prison: At Last
Chauri Chaura: withdrawal Symptoms
Among the Heavyweights
Introduction to Bigotry
Europe: Pass Marx
The Truant Child
Leader of a New Mood
India Claims Freedom
The Most Exclusive School in the World
The Stir of the Monster
'Rituraj'
Hero on a Roller-Coaster
Her Father's Daughter
Mr Chanakya, and Other Masks
Pakistan: Emerging from the Closet
Scrambled Eggs
In the Name of God, Go!
Zero Hour
Other Men's Flowers
The Sole Problem Again: who shall be the Spokesman?
The Bitter Tea-Party
Friends and Lovers
Operation Madhouse
Plan Balkan
A Life That Was the Message
The First War
Centre Strage
'Khadi' socialism
The Realism of Tomorrow
Occupational Hazards
What Present Can I Send You?
China: a Stab from the Front
Greater than His deeds
Bibliography
Index