THE BOND OF AFFECTION BETWEEN GANDHI AND NEHRU

Mahatma Gandhi first met Jawaharlal Nehru at the annual meeting of the Indian National Congress in the year 1916 at Lucknow. That was the year of his marriage with Kamala. In his autobiography,  Nehru writes "My first meeting with Gandhiji was about the time of Lucknow Congress during the Christmas, 1916. All of us admired him for his heroic fight in South Africa, but he seemed very distant and different and un-political to many of us young men. He refused to take part in Congress or national politics then and confined himself to the South African Indian question. Soon afterwards his adventures and victory in Champaran, on behalf of the tenants of the planters, filled us with enthusiasm. We saw that he was prepared to apply his methods in India and they promised success." This first meeting was enough to impress Nehru regarding Gandhi and the charm of this relationship increased and flourished with passing time.

According to the Gandhian Scholar, Narayan Desai, in 1919, some months after the massacre at the Jallianwala Bagh, General Dyer was travelling back to Delhi by train after disposing before the Hunter Commission. All the berths in his compartment were occupied by soldiers, save one. Later in the night, a passenger came and occupied it. General Dyer was chatting with his fellow passengers and boasting of his deeds. He had no idea that the Indian passenger in his train was none other than Jawaharlal Nehru. Describing this incident, Nehru wrote, ‘He pointed out how he had the whole town at his mercy and he felt like reducing the rebellious city to a heap of ashes, but he took pity on it and refrained.’These boastful words echoed his statement before the Hunter Commission.

For about eight months the government of India tried to put a veil of secrecy over the atrocities in Punjab. Sin is closely related to darkness; it considers itself immune under the cloak of secrecy.

The young Nehru began taking active interest in the national problems after the Punjab incident. He was assigned to work along with C.R.Das, who investigated the incidence of atrocities in Amritsar. He also had the opportunity to observe Mahatma Gandhi from close quarters.  He recorded his first impression of Mahatma Gandhi, saying:

‘During the Punjab inquiry, I saw a great deal of Gandhiji. Very often his proposal seemed novel to our committee and it did not approve of them. But almost always he argued his way to their acceptance and subsequent events showed the wisdom of his advice. Faith in his political insights grew in me.’

The day after General Dyer’s massacre in Jalliawalan Bagh, Gandhiji commenced his 72 hours fast in Ahmedabad. On 21^st July 1919, he announced in Bombay that he was suspending the civil disobedience movement and would not resume it because of violence in “Chauri Chaura” village of Gorakhpur district of the united provinces, where the police had opened fire on a peaceful large procession. The principals of ahimsa integral to this decision were revealed to the country some two years later.

This decision caused much debate and consternation among the non-cooperators. Nehru questioned the wisdom of that decision to suspend the movement. Later he answered these and other question himself.

“As a matter of fact even the suspension of civil resistance in February 1922 was certainly not due to “Chauri Chaura” alone, although most people imagined so. That was the last straw. Gandhiji has often acted almost by instinct… At that time our movement, in spite of its apparent power and the wide spread enthusiasm, was going to pieces. All organization and discipline was disappearing; almost all our good man were in prison and the masses had so far received little training to carry on by themselves… These were probably the reasons and influences that worked in Gandhi’s mind, and granting his premises and the desirability of carrying on with the technique of non-violence, his decision was right. He had to stop the rot and build a new.”

In Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru had found the absolute leader who was capable of handling the entire nation says Siddhartha Dash in his book on Gandhi and Nehru. This quality he found missing in almost all the Indian political leaders of the time. Even Motilal Nehru was highly impressed and influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's inner strength and self-confidence. The greatest quality that went in favor of Mahatma Gandhi was his image. General masses could identify themselves through Gandhiji. In the initial stages of his political career, Jawaharlal Nehru found everything regarding Mahatma Gandhi amazing and great. His plan of action in any field attracted Nehru to a great deal. Nehru's admiration for Gandhi grew in the Satyagraha Sabha in 1919 to defy the notorious Rowlatt Act.

On 8^th November 1927, the viceroy announced the appointment of the royal commission to consider the future constitution of India. Mrs. Anne Besant inaugurated the boycott committee, formed to oppose the Simon commission. A public meeting was held at the Shraddhanand Park for declaring the boycott of British goods as the first step for the attainment of Swaraj. Gandhiji was following the Indian reaction to the Simon commission with great interest. Two things interested him deeply.  One, the country was united in its opposition to the royal commission and the Congress and the Muslim League had passed almost similarly worded resolution, where they had stated that non- inclusion of Indians was an insult to India’s self-respect. Both these organization felt that the Indians should have the right to determine the future of their country. The police assaulted peaceful protesters at many places and in places where the law and order was in the hands of white officers the repressive character of the state became more apparent. Unfortunately, Lala Lajpat Rai sustained grave injuries and succumbed to this on 17^th November 1928.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote in the Young India when the news of the assault on Lala ji had reached him “Well done!  Now we shall not be long in getting Swaraj”, explaining the importance of Martyrdom. His response to Jawaharlal Nehru is indicative of the caring and intimate relationship that the two of them shared. He wrote, “My love to you. It was all done bravely. You have braver things to do. May God spare you for many a long year to come and make you His chosen instrument for freeing from yoke.”

Jawaharlal Nehru had assumed the responsibility of the working secretary of the congress after his return from Europe in 1927. Mahatma Gandhi wrote to him after the 1927 Madras session of the congress saying, “If I can advise you, now that you are working secretary of the Indian national congress, it is your duty to devote your whole energy to the central resolution, i.e. of unity and the important but secondary resolution, i.e., boycott of the Simon commission.”

By the end of 1929 the Congress recognized that it would be required to enter into a direct confrontation with the government and that civil disobedience movement was imminent. The organization looked towards Mahatma Gandhi for leadership. A president was required for the Lahore Congress. Mahatma Gandhi was tuned to the new youthful winds blowing across the Congress. He clarified his views on the issue of the president ship of the Congress in two essays: ‘Who should wear the Crown?’ appeared in the Navjivan on 4^th August 1929, and ‘My Limitations’ was published in the Young India of 12^th September 1929. 

In this article he also said that Jawahrlal Nehru should become the president of the Congress. Gandhi felt that Nehru had everything to recommend him. He has discharged with devotion and ability the office of the secretary of the Congress.  Nehru’s bravery, determination, application, integrity and grit had captured the imagination of youth.  He was in touch with the Labour Party and was closely acquainted with European politics, which allowed him to assess the Indian political situation. Reflecting on his own influence on the masses Mahatma Gandhi said:

‘So long as I retain the affection of our people, there is not the slightest danger of my not being without holding office to make the fullest use of such powers, as I may possess. God had enabled me to affect the life of the country since 1920 without the necessity of holding office. I am not aware that my capacity for service was whit enhanced by my becoming President of the Congress in Belgaum.’

The AICC elected Nehru as the President for the Lahore session of the Congress.  Most members of the AICC were eager for a struggle by the beginning of 1930 and like other leaders of the Congress; Nehru knew that if a struggle of non-payment of taxes or civil disobedience is to be waged no one could lead the movement as well as Gandhi.  

Mahatma Gandhi wanted the wisdom and the courage of the youth to be harnessed for the nonviolent struggle of independence and so he wanted the congress to elect the young leaders as President.  It was Gandhi who had insisted that Nehru be appointed the Congress President of Faizpur Congress in 1936.

Nehru was influenced by the socialist thoughts and dreamt of complete independence.  His training and intellectual disposition allowed him to appreciate the idea of freedom over that of Swaraj. Narayan Desai says in his book ‘My Life is My Message’ that it is important for us to note clearly the differences between Nehru and Gandhi.  Mahatma Gandhi did not give a rebuttal to all the arguments raised by Jawahalal Nehru, instead he asked Nehru to openly protest or come and meet him for an exchange of views.  Both Gandhi and Nehru gave significance to practical and pragmatic issues and did not allow their ideological differences to come in the way of the primary objective of attaining national freedom.

On 15 January 1941, Mahatma Gandhi had stated ‘Some say Pandit Nehru and I were estranged. It will require much more than difference of opinion to estrange us. We had differences from the time we became co-workers and yet I have said for some years and say so now that not Rajaji but Jawaharlal will be my successor.’

Mahatma Gandhi had great fondness for Jawahalal Nehru. To Gandhi, a man like Nehru is rare. A man of sterling character, fearless and therefore reposed a deep trust in Nehru. It was because of his liking that he projected Nehru on the national scene. Gandhi believed that the success of independence movement and national reconstruction depends on the sacrifice of the young generation. Nehru represented the aspirations of younger generation. Nehru effectively harnessed Gandhi’s popularity and charisma to fulfill these objectives. Gandhi also wanted to utilize the energy of this youthful leader, his ability to view the issues in a larger perspective and his enthusiasm for the task of attaining swaraj.  Both had to make compromises in order to work towards a shared objective. But their differences about the long term vision for India persisted but Nehru’s heart was submitted to Gandhi; His intellectual core was formed by western thinking, his emotions bound him to Gandhi, the two retained their regards and mutual reverence for each other.

On the night of 30^th January, 1948 Jawaharlal Nehru gave these words to the millions of hearts:

‘…The light has gone out, I said, and yet I was wrong. For the light that shown in this country was no ordinary light. The light that has illuminated this country for these many years will illumine this country for many more years and a thousand years later that light will still be seen in this country and the world will see it and it will give solace to innumerable hearts. For that light represented the living truth, and the eternal man was with us with us with his eternal truth reminding us of the right path, drawing us from error, taking this ancient country to freedom.”