Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was a veteran political leader. His participation in the freedom struggle in India brought him closer to other great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Motilal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad etc. He gained political ideas concerning this land and became the First Prime Minister of India. His political ideas are as follows.

No religious dogma:

Nehru was pragmatic in his outlook. There was no place of religious dogma in his concept of polities. He never liked the idea of spiritualization of politics.

To him “Religion, as I saw is practiced and accepted even by thinking minds, whether it was Hinduism, Islam or Buddhism or Christianity did not attract me. It seemed to be closely associated with superstitious practices and dogmatic beliefs, and behind it lay a method of approach to life’s problems which was certainly not that of science. There was an element of magic about it, and uncritical credulousness, a reliance on the supernatural.”

ADVERTISEMENTS:

So, Nehru discarded the role of religion in politics.

Faith in democracy:

Nehru had great faith in democracy. He liked democracy of the western model. He had faith in Parliament, Judiciary, press, public opinion which are distinct milestones of democracy. He opined that political democracy without economy democracy is meaningless. If it fails to eradicate poverty, hunger and ignorance of people, it is meaningless. He accepted democracy as not simply a political doctrine but also a way of life.

Faith in socialism:

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Nehru told “I must frankly confess that I am a socialist and a Republican”. As a socialist, he never resorted to the Marxian concept of class struggle or communist policy of ‘Ruthless Suppression. He aimed at solving class conflicts by peaceful methods. To him, socialism was “a growing dynamic conception, as something which is not rigid, as something which must fit in with the changing conditions of human life and activity in every country.” However, the vigor of Nehru as a dynamic socialist faded away when he became the Prime Minister of India after the country’s independence.

Opposition to war:

Out and out, Nehru was a lover of peace. He vehemently opposed war and opined that it can never bring an end to a problem arising anywhere in the world. He considered war as a potent threat to peace. It will bring devastation in the world. So, in any sense and every sense, war is to be opposed tooth and nail.

Opposed to colonialism:

ADVERTISEMENTS:

As champion of world peace, Nehru wanted to oppose colonialism. He wanted freedom for every nation. British, colonial hegemony over India was hated by Nehru from the core of his heart. Suppression to people’s freedom and liberty is a heinous crime. “Nehru wanted to dispense with colonialism because it invades the liberty and freedom of people.

Against communalism, separatism, isolationism etc:

Nehru was against communalism, separatism and also isolationism. It was only because these tendencies put a check to healthy democratic growth of a nation. On the other hand, these tendencies put a’ check to healthy democratic growth of a nation. On the other hand, these principles bring chaos and confusion inside a state and society. So, he advocated curbing communalism, separatism and isolationism in any form and every form.

National development in all fronts:

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Nehru wanted an all-round national development in all fronts -in politics, economy, science and technology, human resources, industrialization etc. The country should be developed. This will generate a new spirit among the people in arousing them from moral degradation. This will change the destiny of India and help her in her emergence.

Territorial integrity, the prime outlook:

Nehru was very particular regarding the territorial integrity of India. Under no circumstances it is to be violated. The prime concern of the government is to pay attention to the safety of the people and the territorial integrity of a land. If anybody, internal or external, violates it, the government should come to action in preserving the integrity of the land.

The political outlook of Nehru was very much pragmatic and dashing in nature. He aimed at the all-round development of the country. Against heavy odds he advised the people and government to maintain the territorial integrity of the motherland. This shows how Nehru was a staunch nationalist.