Nehru : The Making of India - M.J.Akbar

Rating : 10/10

Review:

There are some books I'm nervous of reviewing: books that are absolutely magnificent, epic and in every sense of the word, a brilliant read. There's always a feeling that my review will not do justice to the greatness of the book. That's the case as far as this book is concerned, but I'm trying my best to put to words my thoughts of a 584-page masterpiece most of whose pages have dogears as I over-excitedly marked pages I loved. Which soon turned out to be almost every page.

Jawaharlal Nehru's life is one that saw the birth and 'making' of a nation. He was, in many ways, the architect of modern India and his life is as complex, brilliant and complicated as it can get for any biographer. But M.J. Akbar more than handles it with ease. This biography is not an exercise in worshiping India's first Prime Minister. Rather, it analyzes with great sensitivity and impressive neutrality.

Akbar isn't afraid of criticising Nehru where the criticism is needed, but he is equally generous in praising the man who inherited a broken, poverty-stricken, injured India after partition and rejuvenated her considerably.

Some issues are dealt with in-depth, particularly the Hindu-Muslim ties that was an issue that persisted throughout Nehru's life, the wonderful relationship between 'Bapu' Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru and of course, foreign policy issues, especially the 1962 China war. It is essential that these issues are explained well because most of Nehru's life dealt with it and Akbar does an admirable job of introducing the reader to some concepts and issues, without preaching to them.

But the book isn't just about the 'serious' side of Nehru. Akbar's witty writing style can hold his own in non-fiction, much like his earlier Kashmir: Behind The Vale. His eye for irony, detail and the unknown trivia that amazes you, is one of the greatest advantages of this book. 

Several witty incidents, interesting moments that reveal this great personality make for wonderful reading. I particularly loved how Akbar gave the reader a clear, important insight into Nehru's childhood and early time in politics which had several moments that inspired and influenced Nehru's later policies and life.

Enough emphasis is laid on the important people in Nehru's life,  like father Motilal, daughter Indira, colleagues like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and many others. Akbar, ever the sensible journalist, draws quick insightful references from Nehru's life to the Nehru-Gandhi family that occupies an ever-significant place in Indian polity.

This book took me several months to read, though admittedly, this wasn't the only book I read. It was also because I wanted to take in and save in my mind whatever I was reading because this is by no means a light read. But it is a more than rewarding read which takes you on a journey through the great man's life and moves you tremendously at moments, while still clearly explaining the mistakes and flaws in his career. 

Nehru: The Making of India, much like Nehru himself, is inspiring, patriotic, wonderful, epic, complex and unforgettable. I shall go back to this book several times again and again because it's the kind of book worth cherishing. And if this doesn't make the book sound good enough, the fault is entirely with my review and not the magnificent book.

Letters From A Father To His Daughter - Jawaharlal Nehru

Rating : 10/10

Review:

I love letters. They are a throwback to a now-forgotten world and have a unique charm and romance of their own. They are often about the mundane things in life, day to day news from a common man. But some letters, that we are fortunate to have preserved till today, see history pass through them. This book is one such treasure. Letters From A Father to His Daughter is an enchanting collection of letters written by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to his daughter Indira when she was 10. Through these letters, Nehru talks to his daughter about the story of the earth, civilizations, nature, history, race, languages, early man, tribes and much more. Written in a style that is beautifully simple and delightfully thought-provoking, Letters From A Father To His Daughter is a must-read for everyone, especially children. This is one of those books I wish I had read as a child. It will open a child's eyes to the beauty of the world around him. As for adults, it is a wonderful flashback of things we learnt a long time ago; things that were never quite this succinctly put. Nehru was a multi-faceted personality and his books are a joy to read. This book is so simply woven with timeless ideas that every child must be taught from a very young age. His concise writing in these letters are an obvious, marked departure from the metaphor-laden, almost lyrically beautiful works like The Discovery of India. For me, who has read several biographies about Nehru, this book was another opportunity to know more about the man. And sure enough, there were several lines that marked his dislike of the caste system, nepotism, his leaning towards socialism, his love of nature, his anger against landlordism ( which he later abolished ) among others. There is even a separate chapter called 'India and China' - one foreign relation exercise where his policies were a failure. But what captivated me most was his love for people. Not just his own people, but for people everywhere who deserved a good life of peace and happiness. He tells his daughter Indira: 'As Indians we have to live in India and work for India. But we must not forget that we belong to the larger family of the world and the people living in other countries are after all our cousins. It would be such an excellent thing if all the people in the world were happy and contented. We have therefore to try to make the whole world a happier place to live in' Those are wonderful words that will remain with the reader long after they are done reading the book. The illustrations in this book are eye-catching and will add to the reading experience. I highly recommend this book to all; it is timeless and the values that Nehru writes about, are universal.

The Discovery of India

I intended to post this update about The Discovery of India on August 15, but then I got all busy with work, so here goes:

The Discovery of India, as far as I have read, is an intimate study of India and what she has been to Jawaharlal Nehru- a man who would later go on to be India's first ever Prime Minister. This book was written by Nehru at Ahmadnagar Fort Prison Camp and chronicles his thoughts on India in general and also in relation to her impact on Nehru's life.

Every incident in life, every small occurrence, every visible image- all lead to Nehru's greater understanding of his motherland. It is a deeply emotional, often stirring and certainly a moving read. To me, the strength of this book is definitely how Nehru analyzes India's problems with just as much clarity as he proclaims with pride, his love for his motherland. Now that is not easy, I'd say, to be critical of the place you so much love. But Nehru's writing is like a mother chiding the child she so much loves. The criticism is out of love, not hatred.

The topics that Nehru analyzes in the book are mind-bogglingly varied, which is why it takes me a lot of time to read it all and actually internalize it. Nehru talks of the Indus Valley civilization and often wonders how the civilization survived for 2000 years and yearns to discover that spirit, that strength that held a country together. He talks about India's diversity, her rivers, her languages, her people, the Bharath Mata, philosophy, Lenin and Marxism, his refusal to meet the Duce Mussolini and so much more!

At one point in the book, Nehru admits that at first he did not know the real India. The Cambridge educated Nehru felt like a 'friendly foreigner' delving into India's mysteries, history, culture and heritage.

As Nehru discovers India through this book, you begin to discover Nehru. I found myself agreeing with him so many times which is why I'd say he was a man with quite a formidable vision.

Sample this:

'India, constituted as she is, cannot play a secondary part in the world. She will either count for a great deal or not count at all'

I entirely agree with this line! 'Constituted as she is' obviously refers to India's immense population that leads to great man-power and her significantly large landscape, her culture, her unity in diversity.

Nehru's admiration for China, which would later initially influence India's policy regarding China and was at one point symbolized by the catchphrase Hindi- Chini bhai bhai ( Indians and Chinese are brothers) during his tenure, is also evident from several instances in this book.

They (the Chinese) are not a new race, nor have they gone through that shock of change, from top to bottom, which came to Russia. Undoubtedly, seven years of cruel war has changed them, as it must. How far this change is due to the war or to more abiding causes, or whether it is a mixture of the two, I do not know, but the vitality of the Chinese people astonishes me. I cannot imagine a people endowed with such bed-rock strength going under.

The book is a treasure to cherish for sure. It is a long read, but a rewarding one which teaches you as much about India, her glories and challenges, as it does about one of the men who helped make India what it is today. I look forward to reading the rest of the book and I certainly recommend it for anyone who wants to know more about India as seen from the eyes of one of her sons.