Remembering Jawaharlal Nehru on this day, 27 May 2022
The "Light went out in India", 58 years ago on 27 May 1964, the day Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister bid farewell!
Today we pay respect to the great man who securely placed India on the side of democracy and freedom! He took office as India's first Prime Minister on 15 August 1947 and delivered his famous inaugural speech 'Tryst with Destiny': "Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity ....".
That 'Tryst with Destiny' still gives one a sense of pride as we think of the man who is loved by millions around the world The Nation wept as India's first Prime Minister's sudden demise was announced 58 years ago on the morning of 27th May! Politicians wept openly and more than 250,000 people including children filed past to pay respect to their 'Chaacha Nehru'. Most of us remember what we were doing when we heard the news of our Chaacha Nehru's sudden demise on that dreadful morning! Some of us were on school holidays, but everything went dark and gloomy after that and I remember crying hearing the news and everyone who heard the news were in tears too, so much was their love for their beloved Nehru, their first Prime Minister!
His birthday on 14 November is celebrated as 'Children's Day' in India, which reminds me of his famous book, 'Letters from a Father to his Daughter', which includes the letters he wrote to his darling daughter Indira, while he was in prison! I remember thinking that I would collect letters from my father and publish it too, though that is still on my 'Wishful dream list'! I am sure many people started writing letters and collecting them, because Nehru wrote letters to his daughter and also to his Nation!
His books are still sought after, especially 'Discovery of India', 'An Autobiography', 'Letters from a Father to his Daughter', 'Glimpses of World History', 'Unity of India Collected Writings 1937-1940', 'China Spain and the War', 'Letters for a Nation: From Jawaharlal', etc! His books are an inspiration to many, and the aspiring Politicians could learn a great deal from his words of wisdom! I treasure his books and the books written about him!
He was more than a Prime Minister to everyone and was lovingly called 'Chaacha Nehru', who always had a serene smile on his face and a rose in the button hole of his jacket! The jacket came to be known as 'Nehru Jacket', the iconic status symbol for generations, and the rose became the favourite flower of many in India, and I still have a soft corner for the rose and a special place in my garden too!
Fifty eight years have passed since his passing and we still think of Jawaharlal Nehru, our first Prime Minister, with abundance of love and respect, which will continue for eternity! May your gentle soul rest in peace with our love and respect!
©️EMenonMay2022