Motilal Nehru

Motilal Nehru
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Name	Motilal Nehru
Caption	Motilal Nehru, c. 1920s
Birth date	6 May 1861
Birth place	Agra, North-Western Provinces, British India
Death date	6 February 1931 (aged 69)
Death place	Lucknow, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India
Occupation	Lawyer, Politician
Spouse	Swarup Rani Nehru
Children	Jawaharlal Nehru, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Krishna Hutheesing
Party	Indian National Congress
Office	President of the Indian National Congress
Term start	1919
Term end	1920
Predecessor	Syed Hasan Imam
Successor	Lala Lajpat Rai
Term start2	1928
Term end2	1929
Predecessor2	Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari
Successor2	Jawaharlal Nehru

Motilal Nehru. He was a prominent lawyer, an influential early leader of the Indian National Congress, and the patriarch of the Nehru–Gandhi family, which would dominate Indian politics for much of the 20th century. A man of immense wealth and Western tastes, he underwent a profound political transformation, eventually becoming a key ally of Mahatma Gandhi and a staunch advocate for complete independence from British rule. His legacy is deeply intertwined with the founding of the modern Republic of India, largely through his son, Jawaharlal Nehru, the nation's first Prime Minister.

Early life and education

Motilal Nehru was born in Agra to a family of Kashmiri Pandit heritage. His father, Gangadhar Nehru, was a Kotwal in Delhi but died before Motilal's birth, leaving the family in difficult circumstances. He was raised primarily by his elder brother, Nandlal Nehru, who worked as a Diwan in the princely states of Khetri and Jaipur. Motilal received his early education in Persian and Arabic at home before attending school in Cawnpore. He later graduated from Muir Central College in Allahabad, which was then affiliated with the University of Calcutta.

Legal career

After initially working as a clerk at the Allahabad High Court, Motilal Nehru qualified as a Vakil and began a spectacularly successful legal practice. His sharp intellect and oratory skills quickly earned him a reputation as one of the most brilliant and wealthy lawyers in Allahabad, then a major judicial center. He amassed a considerable fortune, which allowed him to adopt an opulent, Anglicized lifestyle, famously building the palatial family home Anand Bhavan. His legal acumen was widely respected, and he often represented clients in high-profile cases before the Privy Council in London.

Political career

Motilal Nehru's political career began in the early 20th century, initially within the moderate faction of the Indian National Congress that sought reforms within the British Empire. He attended the historic 1905 Benares session of the Congress and was deeply influenced by leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale. He served as the President of the Indian National Congress twice, first in the 1919 Amritsar session and later in the 1928 Calcutta session. His political philosophy evolved from moderate constitutionalism towards more radical demands, a shift catalyzed by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and his son's growing involvement with Mahatma Gandhi's methods.

Role in the Indian independence movement

Motilal Nehru played a central role in several pivotal moments of the Indian independence movement. He co-founded the Swaraj Party with Chittaranjan Das in 1923, aiming to enter legislative councils and obstruct colonial governance from within. He was the principal author of the Nehru Report of 1928, which proposed a draft constitution for a Dominion status India. The report's rejection by the British government and by Muhammad Ali Jinnah's All-India Muslim League pushed him and the Congress towards the goal of Purna Swaraj (complete independence). He actively participated in Mahatma Gandhi's Non-cooperation movement and the Civil Disobedience Movement, suffering imprisonment on multiple occasions.

Personal life and family

In 1889, Motilal Nehru married Swarup Rani Thussu, and the couple had three children who survived to adulthood. His eldest son, Jawaharlal Nehru, became the first Prime Minister of India. His daughters, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit and Krishna Hutheesing, also achieved significant public prominence; Vijaya Lakshmi served as President of the United Nations General Assembly and as Governor of Maharashtra. The family resided at Anand Bhavan in Allahabad, which later became a hub for Congress party planning. His grandson, Indira Gandhi, would also become Prime Minister of India, cementing the family's political dynasty.

Legacy

Motilal Nehru's legacy is that of a bridge between the era of petitioning moderates and the era of mass civil disobedience led by Mahatma Gandhi. The Nehru Report remains a landmark document in India's constitutional history. His greatest legacy, however, is the Nehru–Gandhi family, which produced three Prime Ministers and remains a central force in the Indian National Congress. Institutions like the Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad bear his name. His life story symbolizes the journey of India's Westernized elite who ultimately sacrificed privilege to join the national struggle for freedom. Category:Indian independence activists Category:Presidents of the Indian National Congress Category:Nehru–Gandhi family