The Press THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1964. Jawaharlal Nehru

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30452, 28 May 1964, Page 14

The Press THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1964. Jawaharlal Nehru

India is too old and too slow-moving to assess at the hour of his death the success or failure of Jawaharlal Nehru. Yet the exclusive access he seemed to have to the soul of his country, and the almost religious appeal, he had for its diverse peoples, established him as a great leader. He was political chief of the. Congress party for more than four decades; he spent 10 years of his life in British prisons in consequence of his agitation for India’s independence; and he has been the only Prime Minister since independence was achieved in 1947.

The world has often had to be patient when he was awkward; yet it watched with sympathy his efforts to lift his country out of its. lethargy and backwardness—in the face of its hunger, population pressure, separatist movements, and the shattering of 1000 years of peaceful relations with China. He was regarded as Gandhi’s greatest legacy to India; but it was only in recent months that Mr Nehru himself seemed to become aware of the vacuum in leadership that would be left by his own departure from the Indian scene. New men were brought into the Government and Congress began to shape the foundations of a new, alternative government. But the new structure is far from complete; and all the problems that Mr Nehru faced when he took office—partition troubles, sectarian disruption,, and a tired land struggling to support a population expanding to nearly 500 million—seem as intractable as ever. No popular leader appears ready to step into Nehru’s shoes. . Only two years ago Mr -Nehru said he was not apprehensive; he was confident that new leadership would emerge. Perhaps he was wearily evading the issue. Perhaps he relied on faith and insight. Nehru has recalled a childhood vision which came to him when reading one of G. M. Trevelyan’s books on Garibaldi, a prize for his diligence at Harrow. Long before he studied science and law and returned home to lead a political crusade, he foresaw, in this way, the successful fight that he and others Were to wage for the independence and “ freedom ” of India.

At his death, his rule appears a qualified success. He gave India a respected voice in world affairs; but many millions of Indians remain hungry. His policy of non-violence, often sorely tested by personal experience, served him and India well in his rise to power; yet India remains weak where it should be strong. He pleaded for unity; but India has not achieved the unity essential to a real nationhood. Many have wondered what would have. happened in an India without a Nehru. Some, at least, of the questions raised by that speculation are now to be put to the test.