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Abstract

M. Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru are the most crucial figures in modern history of India. Gandhi was the leader of the nationalist movement that led to India’s independence from the British Empire while Nehru paved the ground for the modern state after independence. Nehru’s legacy remains more practical and more pertinent than Gandhi’s in India. When India obtained independence in 1947 Nehru was faced with many difficult tasks, the most important of which was transforming India to a modern state. To him modernization was the national philosophy and it included the national integration, parliamentary democracy, industrialization, socialism and secularism. Among these, Nehru considered secularism, democracy and socialism as the three priorities. First, Nehru made a particular effort to transform India into a secular modern state excluding religious elements reflected in Gandhi’s thoughts and the policy of the Indian National Congress. He acknowledged the modern conveniences of Western civilization and yet tried to overcome its defects. In this is found Nehru’s contribution that distinguishes him from Gandhi. Second, Nehru was convinced that India should adopt democracy as practiced in England even though he led the resistance movement against England. Finally, Nehru attempted to realize socialistic society that is fundamentally different from capitalist regime. It ought to be remembered, though, that he emphasized social justice and yet he also cherished individual freedom. He pursued social revolution and yet he tried to pursue it in a non-violent way. In other words, Nehru’s creativity can be found in his attempt to pursue modernity by combining both liberal and socialist elements. Nehru underscored in particular the establishment of democratic system and economic planning. It is an irony that his emphasis on democracy left significant influence on Indian politics while it became an obstacle to the economic development. Three five-year economic plannings were enforced during his term as prime minister but all these turned into failure. India’s economic growth remained far behind those of other newly founded states in Asia. To him rapid economic growth was not the end, however. Economic development and political democracy ought to be reconciled and pursued at the same time. He believed that both were indispensible virtue of modernity and would not give up one for the other. When Manmohan Singh was appointed financial minister in 1991 and started to reform India’s state-controlled economy, Nehru was criticized as responsible for India’s economic backwardness. Then what can be claimed as Nehru’s achievements? The fact that he solidified secular and democratic state will be remembered forever. The democratic system he established, however limited it may be, is thought to be as the most valuable asset of India and Nehru’s name will be accompanied with it for a long time.