Jawaharlal Nehru: An Iron-willed Democrat Who Had Strength Lined with Tenderness
Prameela K
Published on: 2 March 2021, 03:30 am
India's first prime minister was a man of many parts. Be it J&K, China, or the integration of princely states with the Union of India, he showed an astuteness, unwavering determination, and a temperament cultivated in high philosophy. The confluence of an iron-will and democratic disposition in Nehru was seasonable for a newly independent India, writes MOHAMMED WASIM.
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"What is the position of Jammu and Kashmir State vis-à-vis India? Looking at it objectively, this State is of importance, both form the strategic and other points of view, to both India and Pakistan. Hence, the conflict between the two. We are not prepared to give in to Pakistan on that issue, even though it means war. The utmost we can do is to give in so far as that area is occupied by Pakistan ….Thus, purely from the point of view of India's national interest, we cannot agree, unless circumstances force us, to see this part of Kashmir go to Pakistan. There are no circumstances visible that can force us to do this. Pakistan cannot. The United Nations cannot override our wishes in this matter."
—Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Series 2, Volume 19, page 326 in a note to Sheikh Abdulla on 25.08.1952.
THESE excerpts in relation to the integration of J&K with the Union of India run counter to Jawaharlal Nehru's popularly sculptured image of an ingenuous democrat. Neither is this an occasional effusion of resolve on his part. We see in his writings and actions a constant refrain to this effect wherever the national interest of India or his core ideologies are concerned.
INTEGRATE J&K WITH INDIA
Contrary to the popularly held view that his idealism jeopardised a conclusive integration of J&K, his writings on the Kashmir question in Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru reveal an unwavering determination to integrate the state with India. That he wanted to do it with the actual or apparent willingness of the people of the state was crucial to India's unity and integrity, as it had applied the same principle for the integration of other princely states and cannot be seen to be dithering from it where it was expedient.
