Ramesh Menon, Vālmīki, C. Rajagopalachari

Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964) was a central figure in India's 20th-century history, serving as its first Prime Minister for 16 years after India's independence. A leading anti-colonial nationalist and social democrat, he played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement, advocating for parliamentary democracy, secularism, and scientific advancement. In foreign policy, he guided India to remain neutral during the Cold War.

Educated in England, Nehru initially pursued law but became increasingly involved in national politics, joining the Indian National Congress and eventually becoming its leader with Mahatma Gandhi's support. He called for complete independence from British rule and was instrumental in shaping India as a secular, modern nation. Nehru was also a respected author, with works like 'An Autobiography' and 'The Discovery of India' gaining international recognition.

Born into a prominent Kashmiri Pandit family, Jawaharlal Nehru received a privileged home education. His early life was influenced by an Irish tutor, Ferdinand T. Brooks, who introduced him to the Theosophical Society at age thirteen. Though his engagement with theosophy was brief, it led him to explore Hindu and Buddhist scriptures, which he later described as his initial encounter with India's cultural heritage and a catalyst for his intellectual pursuits. His youth was marked by fervent nationalism, intensified by international conflicts, and later by his studies in England, where works like G. M. Trevelyan's books on Garibaldi inspired visions of Indian liberation.

After studying law in England, Nehru returned to India in 1912, enrolling at the Allahabad High Court. However, he found little interest in legal practice, with his attention increasingly drawn to nationalist politics. He joined the Indian National Congress, aligning with its more radical factions and eventually rising to leadership, gaining the endorsement of Mahatma Gandhi. Nehru's political journey involved advocating for Swaraj (self-governance) and participating in movements like Home Rule. He became a significant figure in the Congress, particularly after his father, Motilal Nehru, shifted from moderate politics to embrace Gandhi's methods following events like the Jallianwala Bagh killings.

As a principal leader of the Indian nationalist movement, Nehru was instrumental in India's transition to independence in 1947, serving as the nation's first Prime Minister. He championed parliamentary democracy, secularism, and the development of science and technology, profoundly influencing India's trajectory as a modern state. In international relations, he was a key architect of the Non-Aligned Movement, ensuring India's neutrality amidst the Cold War's bipolar world. His premiership saw the Congress party dominate national politics, and he remained in office until his death in 1964.