Jawaharlal Nehru - Biography.

Jawaharlal Nehru - Biography. First Prime Minister of Independent India Birth November 14, 1889 Death May 27, 1964 Place of Allahabad Birth Political Indian National Congress Party Term 1947-1964 Known For Establishing India as a leader of the Nonaligned Movement through a policy of 'positive neutrality' Carrying on Mohandas Gandhi's legacy as leader of a newly independent India Milestones 1912 Returned to India after studying law in London 1919 Became involved with radical nationalists after learning of the Amritsar Massacre, in which British troops opened fire on Indian demonstrators 1920-1921 Traveled among the common people of India, urged by Gandhi to learn about his country after having spent much of his youth in Britain 1927 Returned to India after travels in Europe, having deepened his understanding of and commitment to socialism 1929 Succeeded his father as president of the Indian National Congress 1946 Was chosen by Gandhi to serve as interim head of state, overseeing the transition to independence from Great Britain leading up to the national elections of 1947 1950s Developed and practiced a foreign policy of 'positive neutrality,' not allowing India to be drawn into Cold War blocs centered around the United States and the Soviet Union Quote 'The light has gone out of our lives, and there is darkness everywhere.' January 30, 1948, in a radio broadcast following Gandhi's assassination. Did You Before his death, Nehru arranged for his ashes to be scattered from an aircraft so that his remains could become 'an indistinguishable Know part' of India. Because of his family's close association with the British colonial authorities, Nehru considered himself more British than Indian until he experienced discrimination firsthand in England. Nehru described prison as 'the best of universities,' because during his several prison stints for civil disobedience he was able to focus on his studies and writings on political philosophy. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.