Nehru’s Will
Author: A.K. Srivastava
Chinese Premier Chou-en-lie once described Nehru as “Cocky Pt Nehru“. Was Nehru like that even during the life time of Sardar Patel. Answer is NO. Pt.Nehru was rebuked by Congress many a times because it was Sardar Patel was the organisation man and he was in a better position to persuade his party men to take a view.
At the Lahore Congress, Gandhi and old guards were very unhappy when Nehru described himself a Socialist and Republican. In Lucknow he was posing to fulfillment of Socialistic idealism namely Communism. Mahatma Gandhi wrote “Jawaharlal’s way is not my. I accept his ideal on land etc. But I don’t accept practically any of his methods. I would strain every nerve to prevent a class war.”
Gandhi wrote to Nehru on 29 May 1936 “Your statement ….has given much pain to Rajen Babu, CR, and Vallabhbhai.They feel, and I agree with them, that they have tried to act honourably and with prefect loyalty towards you as a colleague…….They feel that you treated them with scant courtesy and never defended them from the Socialists’ ridicule and even misrepresentation.“
The old guards told Gandhi “We feel that the preaching and emphasising of Socialism, particularly at this stage, by the President and other Socialist members of the Working Committee while the Congress had not yet adopted it, is prejudicial to the best interest of the country and to the success of the national struggle for freedom“
Nehru had advised Dr. Rajendra Prasad not to contest President’s election in 1950 in favour of Rajgopalacharya. Sardar Patel helped Dr. Rajendra Prasad to get elected. Again in 1950, Congress wanted to nominate Purushottam Das Tandon as Party President but Nehru was in favour of Kriplani. He even threatened to resign but Tandon was elected against the will of Nehru. Sardar Patel believed that the will of Nehru was not the will of Congress but he persuaded Nehru not to resign as Nehru had felt that Party had no confidence in him.
However,after the death of Sardar Patel in December 1950,Nehru started tightening his grip over Congress.
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Sh. A.K. Srivastava (Twitter account @aksrivastava232) is Senior Advocate in Supreme Court of India, New Delhi where he is practicing since last 40 yrs. He had been Advocate General of Govt. of Sikkim & was Hon.Secretary of Supreme Court Bar Association for two years(1991-92,1992-93). He writes at http://ak-srivastava.blogspot.in & has agreed to post his articles here too.
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Sardar Patel never forgot that Mr. Nehru was Gandhiji’s declared heir. Patel to his agony told many people in person that Nehru was Bapu’s elected man. Tandonji was elected as congress president but later he was voted down badly on several occasions as Nehru played the role of a villain. That session Tandonji uttered vehemently those two hindi words “Sanshodhan Girgaya”. Very true, Nehru tightened the grip on congress after patel’s death. He became the Congress President on 9th September 1951. Nehru’s will was against the nation but personally benefitted for him and the congress party.
its very nice sir…
Thanks for appreciating.
When a movement against British Rule had to govern as a party, there were forces pulling in all directions. Among that the one which was with governance and the other in the organisation were stronger than the rest of the groups. Though people left congress at different stages because of ideology and method of functioning of the party, the final major groups became one in governance and other in the organisation after independence. That the person wielding stronger organisation hold passed away gave adequate elbow room for Nehru to consolidate his hold.
Ramachandran V Bangalore 13.01.2014
Congress started dwindling after the death of Sardar Patel in Dec.1950.He was so perfect in ideology and Organisation that his demise had a telling effect.After many great leaders ejected from congress,the race for sycophancy started.Todays congress is what Nehru wanted.
Sir.Nehru will was supreme but Writer has put them in different perceptive in a open manner. Short but accurate. Sir well written.
Sardar Patel fouled out by Maulana Azad and Gandhi and Nehru was installed as PM.Many Congress leaders like CR,Jaiprakash Narain,Kriplani and Maulana Azad himself regretted.The course was changed at the inseption itself.