Gandhi And Nehru Reflections Through Letters

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Anil Dutta Mishra is a distinguished Gandhian Scholar and Writer. He started his career as Assistant Professor in the Department of Non-violence and Peace Studies, Jain Vishva Bharati University, Ladnun, Rajasthan, became Deputy Director of National Gandhi Museum and Honorary Professor, Centre for Gandhian Philosophy and Human Development, Gayatri Vidya Parishad Degree College [Autonomous], Visakhapatnam. Presently, he is treasure, IIPA, Delhi Regional Branch, New Delhi and Professor Research, UPRTOU, Allahabad. Mishra has held the post of General Secretary of Indian Society of Gandhian Studies, Alliance for Sarvodaya, Member Board of Studies, Nagpur and Punjab Universities and is Member of Gandhian Studies Centre of different colleges and universities across India. He has authored/edited 30 books and published a number of research papers. His recent book Reading Gandhi is widely acclaimed.

Sacrifice of Gandhi and Nehru for the cause of country and people was unparallel in Indian history. We can criticise, romanticised Gandhi and Nehru which is natural due to ideological differences. But, we must remember that we cannot afford to ignore their sacrifice and contribution.

Gandhi and Nehru share a rare bond of love, affection and understanding of each other thought and action. The original letters written by these two iconic personalities are reproduced here without any distortions and alterations so that the readers drew their own conclusions. These letters are treasure of information and function like a lighthouse in the journey of thought in the ocean of knowledge. These letters are chronologically arranged to enable the reader to understand Gandhi and Nehru and their relationship.

The purpose of this book is to understand the two unique personalities of Modern India, Gandhi and Nehru, through their writings. A reader friendly book will be useful to researchers, social scientists, students and general readers.

Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru shaped the distiny of India and Indians. One cannot think of India without Bapu and Chacha Nehru. They became natural leader of India by sheer of hard work, honesty, prestine purity, always ready to work for the motherland and its people and set example for others to follow. They were iconic personalities. They derived legacy through their creativeness, thought, action and deed. Gandhi said that my life is message. Similarly, for Nehru: Aram is Haram.

In pre-Independence India Gandhi dominated the freedom. struggle being a undisputed leader. Contrary, in post-Independent India Nehru being a first Prime Minister built everything from scratch.

Jawaharlal Nehru built brick by brick India and laid strong foundation of strong Parliamentary democracy and all modern institutions and system of governance. Today we are calling ourself proudly that India is self-sufficient in food, vivrant democracy, secular and emerging super power. We are nuclear power, space power and what not. Credit goes to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and his Cabinet colleagues.

Sacrifice of Gandhi and Nehru for the cause of country and people was un-parallel in Indian history. We can criticise, romanticised Gandhi and Nehru which is natural due to idealogical differences. But, we must remember that we cannot afford to ignore their sacrifice and contribution. Gandhi and Nehru must be seen in Text and Context. They were close associates and derived strength from each other. They were responding to contemporary challenges but its impact was everlasting. India was in their blood. They dedicated their lives for her liberation. One can see Nehru in Gandhi and Gandhi in Nehru.

Gandhi and Nehru met for the first time during Lucknow Congress during Christmas 1916. In due course of time, Nehru became a true follower of Gandhi. Not a blind one. Nehru wrote about Gandhi in An Autobiography-"What a wonderful man was Gandhiji after all, with his amazing and almost irresistible charm and subtle power over people. His writings and his sayings conveyed little enough impression of the man behind; his personality was far bigger than they would lead one to think. And his service to India, how vast they had been. He had instilled courage and manhood in her people, and discipline and endurance, and the power of joyful sacrifice for a cause, and, with all his humility, pride. Courage is the one sure foundation of character, he had said; without courage there is no morality, no religion, no love. "One cannot follow truth or love so long as one is subject to fear." With all his horror of violence, he had told us that "cowardice is a thing even more hateful than violence." And "discipline is the pledge and guarantee that a man means business. There is no deliverance and no hope without sacrifice, discipline, and self-control. Mere sacrifice without discipline will be unavailing. Words only and pious phrases perhaps, rather platudinous, but there was power behind the words, and India knew that this little man meant business."

**Contents and Sample Pages**