Why Mahatma Gandhi chose Jawaharlal Nehru as India's first Prime Minister.
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Written by Akhilesh Jha, IPS and Currently Director of International Police Academy, Brussels, Belgium-- India Affairs.
( A) Introduction
The transition of power in 1947 was a watershed moment in Indian history. The choice of the first Prime Minister was not merely a political appointment but a strategic decision to ensure the stability and future trajectory of a newborn nation. There is a popular perception doing rounds that Sardar Patel was bypassed in spite of 12 out of 15 Provincial Congress Committees favoured Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for the Congress Presidency in 1946—a position that effectively led to the Prime Ministership .But this is not true . Equating Congress Presidentship with Prime Ministership was wrong . Deliberate villification campaigns are being launched to denigrate Jawaharlal Nehru . The entire hypothesis is built upon the book written by J B Kriplani who was a staunch opponent of Jawaharlal Nehru. Moreover, It is pertinent to note that neither any contemporary leader nor any news paper voiced dissent with regard to the appointment of Nehru as president of Congress or the prime ministership. Moreover, had Sardar Patel been appointed as the President of Congress, that Resolution was sure to fail the approval from the AICC where JawaharlalNehru had absolute majority. .In 1951 , Kriplani formed a new Party called Kishan Mazdoor Praja Party by bifurcating from the Congress. . In 1952 , he merged his Party with Socialist Party and renamed it Praja Socialist Party . Mahatma Gandhi’s intervention in favour of Jawaharlal Nehru was rooted in several pragmatic and visionary factors.
1. Pan-Indian Mass Appeal and Secular Image
Nehru was established as an "All India Leader" with a mass appeal that transcended regional and religious boundaries. While Sardar Patel was a formidable organizer and fundraiser, his primary influence was often seen as concentrated among the farmers of the Bombay Presidency. In contrast, Nehru’s charisma drew crowds of hundreds of thousands from Peshawar to Dhaka.At a time when India was grappling with communal tensions, Nehru’s acceptance among Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians made him the ideal candidate to lead a secular, pluralistic India. India needed such a mass leader who should have mass appeal through out the length and breadth of the country . India was in the making process. Foreign media and British Leadership were skeptical about the capacity of Indian leaders to keep India united. Violent communist movements in Telangana, ethnic turmoils in the North- Eastern states , clamour for separate Dravidistan and tantrums of Sheikh Abdullah in Jammu and Kashmir further necessitated a leader who could be acceptable to all communities. It was because of this masterstroke that Congress could rule this country for the next 55 years , giving the nascent democracy a stability. Congress belied the doomsayers.
2. Visionary and International Outlook
Gandhi recognized that the first Prime Minister would need to present India’s case on the global stage. Nehru’s deep understanding of international affairs, combined with his intellectual prowess as evidenced by his writings like The Discovery of India and Glimpses of World History, gave him a global stature that was unmatched by his contemporaries. His command over English, Hindi, and Urdu allowed him to communicate effectively both with the international community and the Indian masses.
3. Ideological Legacy and "Speaking Gandhi's Language"
Despite their differences in economic philosophies—Gandhi favoured village-centric economy while Nehru advocated for industrialization , albeit heavy industries, Gandhi famously stated that "Jawahar will speak my language" when he was gone. He believed that Nehru’s commitment to social justice, internationalism, and the removal of the zamindari system was essential for the modernization of India. Gandhi trusted that under Nehru's stewardship, the foundational values of the freedom struggle would remain secure.
4. Age and Health Considerations practically also played a significant role. In 1947, Nehru was 57 years old, representing the younger generation of the Congress leadership. Conversely, Sardar Patel was 14 years older and suffered from failing health, including multiple heart attacks. Patel’s passing away in December 1950, just three years after independence, validated the concern that India needed a leader who could provide long-term stability during its formative years.
5. Historical Precedence (The 1929 Lahore Session)
Nehru’s leadership credentials were solidified as early as the 1929 Lahore Session, where, under his presidency, the Congress first declared Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence). Since then, he had been the face of the Congress’s radical and progressive wing, making his elevation in 1946 a culmination of a trajectory that began nearly two decades earlier.
Conclusion
Mahatma Gandhi’s preference for Jawaharlal Nehru was a decision based on the immediate needs of a diverse and newly independent nation. By choosing a leader with unparalleled mass appeal, an internationalist vision, and the physical vigour to lead for decades, Gandhi ensured that the "Idea of India" as a modern, secular, and democratic republic would have a strong foundation. While Patel remained the "Iron Man" who integrated the Princely states, Nehru became the architect of modern India, fulfilling the specific role Gandhi envisioned for him.
