Did Nehru perform his duty as the first prime minister?

 Abstract:  

Nehru was the first prime minister of an independent India with this post the responsibility to develop India lies in his hand but there are some questions arises here ,Did Nehru proved to be a Visionary leader being a first prime minister of India or he failed ? In this article we will discuss his vision of a developing India and what are the steps taken by him to promote development and growth in India which is the second largest populated country in the world. The literacy rate in 1951 was 18.33% (MoHRD 2003). The Britishers ruined the resources and exploited Indians for nearly 200 years as a result there was high unemployment, low literacy level, lower growth, poverty lies in Indian society and there was a need for stable and reforming policies. Did Nehru stands on the high ambitions of people? And we will discuss what policies Nehru adopted to transform India. Nehru being a secular leader also led India to become a secular country and promoted scientific temper, industrialisation, PSUs development; improved social sector .He formed Planning Commission and became its first chairman which proved to be an efficient institution in framing India’s development. He also made contribution in making India a nuclear power country .Being the first leader of India in a crucial time his leadership was significant for India’s high ambitions. He was the architect and builder of independent India and therefore, an attempt has been made in is paper to look at the conceptual framework of Jawaharlal Nehru for India’s Development in the post-independence period. 

 Keywords: Jawaharlal Nehru,, development ,industrialization ,agriculture development, public sector undertaking, Scientific temper. 

 Introduction:

 India is a country which remains in the hands of Britishers for a long time. Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister or Independent India and took the responsibility as a leader of the world largest democracy. Nehru was the person with high ambitions and wants India to prosper at global level. He was a man in a hurry to create the structure of a Modern State, a strong and Forward looking Economy (M.Buch , 2015). Power, transportation, health care, education, science and technology, our cultural heritage, rural development there was hardly any sector which Nehru did not cover and tries to make Indian economy forward in all these sectors. He was a Prime minister for 17 years and also at the crucial time when India emerged as developing nation. The post Colonial policy has to impart itself from the past and the one have to look public policy and economic growth in Nehru Era. The two questions arises at that time; first was what factors led Economic growth? And second it is a period of state -directedness, it enables us to how, if at all, such intervention can facilitate growth (P. Balakrishnan,pg.9 2007). 

Nehru’s five year plan

 Nehru, saw ‘five year plans’ vital for the implementation of his vision of modernized and socialist India (Epw). Five year plans were first implemented by the Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union, even though idea adopted the mixed economy (EPW). The period of first five year plan in India was from 1951-1956 .As the economy was facing the shortage of food grains import and the pressure of price rise ,this plan gave highest priority to agriculture to make India Self Sufficient in food grains .About 44.6% of the plan outlay went into the favour of the public sector undertakings (PSU) (Ramesh Singh ,pg. .5.19 2018). The second five year plan which is also known as Nehru- Mahalanobis Plan because it was developed by prof. Mahalanobis for 1956-1961 laid emphasis on rapid Industrialisation with a focus on Heavy industries and Capital goods(Ramesh Singh, pg 5.19 2018). The Mahalanobis model has been constructed on the terms of Keynesian model, national income, investment, saving, and assumption. The main two sectors which includes in this model are producing sector production goods and good consumption goods producing sector. The Foreign trade was neglected in this model. The fundamental assumptions of the Mahalanobis Model are a. The Saving -investment model equilibrium is maintained b. The production process in the sectors are always operated under full capacity (H. Katano) .

Nehru on Public Sector Undertaking

. Nehru while inaugurating the Bhakra- Nangal dam in 1954 referred it as a ‘Temple of Modern India’ .It is the PSUs which took the responsibility to make India Self Sufficient. Today around two crore peoples are employed in this sectors which are largely managed by Central and State Government. PSUs are also sometimes criticized for their laissez-faire approach, but PSUs has ruined that image and emerged as one of the biggest partners in India’s Economic growth (dna.com 2013). In 1948 the first PSU in the form of ITI (Indian Telephone Industries Ltd.) emerged and over the years the number and importance of PSU grew enormously. The number of PSU in the first five year plan was only 5 but in 1980 it grown to 103, similarly 244 In 1992 and in March 2021 it rises to 365 which includes 7 new Defence PSUs ‘Public Enterprises Survey 2019-20). Prime Minister Nehru promoted an Economic Policy which is based on import substitution industrialisation and proposed a mixed economy (Ghose ,Sarkar 1993). Nehru also believed that the establishment of basic and heavy industries is the most important instrument in promoting the development and modernisation process in India , which he proposed in second five year plan (1956-1961) (Alhuwalia ,Isher p.25 1993).His vision was carried forward by Dr. V Krishnamurthy also known as “Father of Public Sector Undertakings in India”(Baldev Raj Nayyar ,2001). A large number of PSU were set up across India which played a significant role in terms of Job creation, poverty eradication, economic development, etc. Public Sector are not solely guided by profit but it focuses on over all development of the society and to reach every section of the society. Today the PSUs are one of the biggest company in India and placed at a major position at a global level .like Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) makes profit of 21,836 crore rupees in the year 2020-21 (financial performance: Oil and Energy News 2021, iocl.com) similarly Oil and Natural Gas Ltd. bagged a profit of 13,445 crore rupees in the year 2020-21( Ongc Ltd. Annual Report 2019-20).Similarly the management policy of these companies are also impressive for instance, the NTPC is consistently feature in India’s top 50 Best Workplaces (GPFW Institute report,2021). In India the PSUs has gained a respectable position in people’s mind and they are seen as a trustworthy Organizations as compare to private sector .The PSUs can be called as the wheels of the Indian economy which is necessary for speeding the growth , development and way of living of the society. Today also the public banks are the institutions which provides loans to the society by a single window process for start-up or business while there are difficult in crediting loans from private banks. 

Development according to Nehru :

 Nehru visualized and economically strong India o the International Level and hope for increase in standard of living of people .Nehru was an architect and a builder of Independent India which led India’ s Development in the post Independence Period (Brij .K Sharma pg. 1 2011). Nehru expressed his pain about the miseries of the people of India as : Life is cheap in India and when this is so, life is empty and ugly and shoddy and all the horrid brood of poverty envelops it. There is an enervating atmosphere in India, due to many causes, imposed or inherent, but essentially the resultant of the poverty and want. We have a terrible low standard of living and very high rate of dying .Industrially developed and rich countries have ways of looking at underdeveloped and poor countries just as the rich man looks on the poor and unfortunate” (Discovery of India pg.525 Vol.11th ,1991 ).

 Nehru on Scientific Culture : 

 Nehru was a rational person he believed in Scientific Culture. He also believed that method and approach of science can revolutionized the life of the people. His attitude towards Life was based on the idea of scientific spirit. The technical achievement of science is enough to prove its significance. The enemy of scarcity to the economy of abundance, the science also gave the economy of abundance; it is the science who gave the answers of the most important question which are hitherto monopoly of philosophy (J.L Nehru op.cut pg.26). Thus Nehru saw science and technology as the significant tool which can help India in rapid economic development (BK .Sharma pg.1293). Nehru insisted that Indians should develop scientific temper by which they will get the benefits of scientific knowledge and new technology and for that purpose he set up many scientific laboratories across India . In his message on silver jubilee session of Indian Science Congress at Calcutta in 1938 he said : “It was Science that can alone solve the problems of hunger and poverty , problem of sanitation , illiteracy , of superstition and deadening customs and traditions ,of vast resources running to waste ,of a rich country inhabited by starving people”. Nehru insisted that scientific temper is a necessary approach for an open mind. It makes people aware towards prevailing beliefs , customs , superstition ,and refusal to accept anything without testing and trial (O.P gauba pg.197 ,2015). Nehru also expected something from science and scientists like: (a)Science must serve the common people and it should also solve their material problems like food and basic necessities of life. (b)The promotion of scientific temper should spread to all spheres including politics. (c) Science Should tackle the larger issues of people like social , economical, physiological. (d)Science should focus on the spiritual nature of man also. In 1939 the Board of scientific and industrial research was established under the supervision of SS Bhatnagar (Deepak k. pg255).The invitation to the prominent scientist were given by Nehru including Homi J.Bhabha ,CV.Raman, Vikram Sarabhai .India was the first country in the world to create a Scientific Research and National Resources’ ministry in 1951 for organizing scientific research for national development .Nehru’s trust on scientists and his coordination with them created a major thrust in the beginning , whether it is in the field of nuclear energy or in space exploration or in agriculture sector (D. Mandal pg.8 ,2010). 

 Nehru on Agriculture Development:

 Nehru looked Agriculture Development as the path to initiate Indian whole Development .He believed that if we’ll self sufficient in our agriculture production then after we can plan for industrial development and development of other sectors. (Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru , Vol.37). When India became independent in 1947, more than 80% of the population lived in rural areas and was dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. The agriculture production was merely 50 million tonnes ,farming was done by using traditional outdated tools and irrigation was mainly dependent on rain feeding .The intermediaries were the chief broker who grab all the profits of farmers . Sometimes there were more than 50 intermediaries between farmers and government (CM Sharma 2020). It was essential to introduce land reforms to raise the level of agriculture production .Nehru initiated the land reforms act just after independence which abolished intermediaries and landlordism .In 1951 the first constitutional amendment was passed to introduce land reforms .In 1959 land ceiling law were also passed to prevent heavy concentration of land in the hand of few peoples. He also introduced modern techniques of agriculture , built many river valley project and dams which one hand helped in irrigation facilities and on other hand used for electricity generation. He also bring n fertilizers and manure and promoted organic seed apart from High yield variety seeds (BK Sharma ,pg.1298 2012). Nehru wanted to increase the production of food grains and textiles because he believed that the prices of mostly all the commodities somehow depend on these two items. He was saddened by the fact that India was not self sufficient for its consumption and it have to depend on import for consumption whereas India should import only machineries for domestic production. Nehru visualized India as a exporter of textiles and that’s why he focused on the promotion of small scale industries and tries to improve them by community development programme (CDP)(BK Sharma pg.1298 2012). Nehru also realised that without proper infrastructure in terms of road, electricity, irrigation facilities the agriculture progress is not possible so he laid emphasis on construction of the infrastructure and focused on community development programme in his 1st five year plan .Nehru saw difficulties inherent in adopting scientific agriculture under small land holdings hence he advocated cooperative farming. This aim started in second five year plan by following words: “To take such essential steps which provide foundation for development of cooperative farming , so over the period of 10 years a substantial proportion of agriculture land are cultivated on the cooperative lines” (MS. Swaminathan 1990 pg 303-307).

 Nehru’s views on Industrialisation: 

Nehru advocated the development of basic and heavy industries even before Independence, whereas Gandhi consider it is sin and injustice to use machinery, for concentration of power in the hands of few. He believed that cottage industries can only be use as Subsistence not for development of a strong nation (B.K Sharma). From the inception, the congress party showed ample interest in the socialist pattern of economy which is based on planning and heavy Industrialization because it is essential to make revolutionary changes in the present economic and social structure of society and to remove gross inequalities between people (NMML AICC ,1929).In 1931 Karachi session of congress adopted a resolution on state ownership of key industries ,services, mineral resources, waterway etc. but some section of the congress working committee rejected the organised industrialisation. In 1934 Congress Committee resolution but Nehru believed that the industrialisation and planning believed that the industrialization and planning are the only mean to achieve sustainable economic development (Chakraborty pg.278 ,1992).

 Nehru’s Vision and Governing policies: 

Nehru was a visionary person and he saw modernization as the national philosophy, with seven goals : National Unity , Parliamentary Democracy, Industrialisation, Socialism, Religious Harmony , Development of the Scientific temper ,and Non- Alignment(Parekh 1991).

 (a).Nehru on Economic Policies :

 Nehru proposed Mixed Economy ,where the government controlled public sector coexist with private sector. He believed that industrialisation is the fundamental of Development therefore government directed for investment in the key public sector industries such as Iron ,Steel ,Power etc. his policy was based on the subsidies and protectionist phenomenon. His policies toward the promotion of science and atomic sector was commendable and it is his efforts which led India a technology advanced country in present time . He knew that distinction between public and private sector should not be looked as separate identity but they function as ,parts or the single organism(Khosla ,2015).Nehru’s preference for big state controlled Enterprises created complex system of quotas , tarrifs , industrial license which is also known as License Raj, which hampered the economic growth of India for more than a decade until the 1991 when LPG was introduced under PV. Narasimha Rao government (Yergin and Stanislaw ,2002).

 (b).Nehru on Social Policies :

 Social policy mean the policies which aims to improve the social life of the population like education, health, legal benefits, social upliftment, etc. Nehru worked on every social aspect and tried to improve it. Education: Nehru firstly laid emphasis on the education of children’s and youths believing it is essential for India’s future progress .He also established institutions for higher education including IIMs ,IITs ,AIIMs , NITs ,IIPA ,New Delhi .He was pained to see that many foreign experts were ‘second rate ruff ' but still paid more than much abler Indian. He advocated the academic collaboration and suggested to recruit Indians to train in abroad (Das ,2011). He committed in his five year plan to guarantee free and compulsory primary education to all children of India and for the same purpose he setup thousands of schools in rural areas with free meal to children to improve their nourishment (Aggarwal ,2008). Hindu Marriage Law : Nehru’s leadership enacted many changes in Hindu Personal Law to provide legal and social freedom of women. He also incorporated article 44 which deals with ‘Uniform Civil Code’ to be implemented all over the nation (Erckel ,2011). However it is placed in Directive principles of state policy (DPSP) which are non – justifiable in Nature hence not implemented yet all over India. However he didn’t introduce any changes in the Muslim Personal Law and exempted Muslims to manage their own religious affairs which is somehow discriminatory and critics called this sometimes as Muslim Appeasement attitude of Nehru. He introduced Special Marriage Act 1954 according to which anyone can marry outside their religion. He also brought Reservation Policy to eradicate social inequalities among people and for the upliftment of backward caste. Nehru’s View on Defence and Foreign Policies: Nehru wanted to maintain Peaceful relation with every country however he led the preparation and actual campaign against Pakistan with regard to Kashmir, he also seized Hyderabad and Goa by using military force. He was well aware of the strength and weakness of India’s military in 1947. He focused largely on development of nuclear weapons and established the Atomic Energy Commission in 1948 .His greatest contribution was his policy of Non-alignment during Cold war which presented India as leader on global level. India took help of both USA and USSR in its development policy for instance Steel Mill Complex Bokaro and Rourkela are made by the assistance of USSR and West Germany .The focused industrialisation resulted in 7 % growth annually from 1951 to 1965 making India World’s Seventh largest industrialized country(Walsh ,2006).

 Conclusion:

 From the above observation we can say that Nehru gave his significant contribution in India’s development. It is his leadership and guidance under which India initiated an attempt to make this country Self Sufficient .Nehru barely leave any sector out of his league and tried to improve all the institutions whether it is health , education, industries, agriculture etc. His idea of development was based on scientific lines and he believed that it is the science and technology which can transform India. His planning was based on socialist pattern but he also knew that in Indian context we have to adopt mixed economy. He worked consistently to improve agriculture production because he believed that every commodity of the society somehow related to agriculture and a country where more than 80% of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihood, agriculture is the most important sector which needs transformation. Nehru laid emphasis on heavy and basic industries which he believed as an important tool through which India can become a modern country which was the aim of every nation at that time, therefore he established many heavy industries like Steel and iron plants, nuclear plants, fertilizer industries. The Nehru era witnessed the recovery of India and the igniting of a growth process that has remained undimmed for over five decades, during which time the economy has been hastening slowly and provide it tremendous potential for future India. Nehru can’t be neglected in Indian history and his role in shaping India’s future is commendable and praiseworthy. However there are some policies which didn’t prove efficient and had its setback, like the “Freight Equalization Policy” which ruined the growth of eastern states like Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha through which western and southern states exploited the resources of eastern states without setting up the industries in the native states. But today Nehru severely criticised for his policy regarding Kashmir and China however his legacy cannot be judged by some exception. 

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