Jawaharlal Nehru, the name which quite often echoes in the Parliament, even more than the days when he was alive. He remains in the mainstream politics, sometimes for the autonomy that he enjoyed as the first Prime Minister of Independent India, while also for making some of the most challenging decisions in the history of India.
Reasons are many, but the intention is just politics, for doing so. However, it is good to raise questions on the previous policies and questions but it’s important to make sure that it is with a guided aim because a misguided faith will only lead to misconceptions. Not only among the political parties but masses too.
It becomes imperative on us, at least those who have read Nehru and understood his cosmopolitan character to some extent, to make necessary corrections in opinions being formed against him. The debate is a part of policy reforms, be it in the House or on news channels. Yet there is no denying that the same should not hijack the narrative, thereby leading to the erroneous public image of reputed leaders like Nehru.
Every other day, we can see many prominent faces making absurd claims, questioning the why and how of his character, both as a person and an Independent Indian leader. This does not bother us much until the time it remains in the domestic sphere, but when it enters the international sphere, it starts making trouble for us, as Indians.
Nehru was an open-minded personality who had an insatiable appetite for improvements, both at national and international levels. His notions of prospect were quite much influenced by modernism and scientific temperament, which are must-haves for a leader today also. His vision encompassed taking India to greater heights, right after the painstaking departure of British colonialists.
The current turmoil within the Congress party is not just about choosing the party chief. There’s more to it. If you look at the bigger picture, the Congress party is now paying the cost of Nehru’s cosmopolitan outlook. Nehru is currently being embroiled into numerous controversies for absolutely insane reasons. The whole narrative has been hijacked to show him in a bad light, an ultra-modernist, someone who didn’t even have the manners of a so-called true nationalist.
Nehru’s Cosmopolitanism Costed Dear To Congress
In a democracy, Opposition plays an equally important role. But the way Congress has been left in the lurch is not only to do with mere politics. It’s more than that. The whole social media campaign was designed to malign the party and its leaders. Not only this, but the earlier works and achievements of Congress were also declared either for the family’s gains or of no use to the nation. The Gandhi family was deliberately made a laughing stock for others to troll over social media.
The credit for it partly goes to the family’s impotence to deal with it and partly to the well-organized propaganda. Be it any organization, company, or a political party, innovation is a must. Evolution is not only limited to the nascent stages of coming into being but an ongoing process. This is the reason why despite having the best talent and edified minds, Congress is dud now. It appears dormant owing to the lack of its grasp of the situation.
Despite being the Grand Old Party of India, Indian National Congress fails to deliver even the role of Opposition in today’s times. But what does this portend for the party? If you try to read between the lines, you will realize that more than their political impotence, it is the animosity against Gandhis and especially Nehru which goes on. The masses were targeted with negative misinformation, using the echo chambers exclusively built for this purpose.
Before I conclude this writing, I must say that we all should never forget our freedom fighters and political leaders’ contributions. Because of their sacrifices and decisions, we are called a great nation and recognized as the world’s largest democracy.
It is an honour for us to be Indians and must remain so, forever.