Guha's 'India after Gandhi'- Nehru's India - The biggest gamble in history.

The chapter starts with a quote. 'We are little men serving great causes, but because the cause is great, something of that greatness falls upon us also'. Nehru 1946


It is a moot point whether there would have been a 'Nehru's India' if both Mahatma and Patel had lived longer. Author Guha has caught the mood of the very early times well. While Nehru and Patel were opposites, ' what stalled an open rupture [between the two men] was mutual regard and Patel's stoic decency'.

In the ruling Congress party factions were rampant and was pulled at by all shades of ideologies and character. Some brilliant young congress members had left left the party in 1948 to form the Socialist Party. Gandhian J.B. Kripalani left in 1951 to form the Kisan Majdoor Praja Party. The formation of KMPP it is said strenghtened the hand of Nehru against the pro-caste hindu faction lead by the president of the party Tandon and in a showdown at the AICC in Bangalore, Nehru was chosen as the president of the party. The key reason being 'Pandit Nehru is unequalled as a vote-catcher'. And, as head of both party and government 'Nehru could now wage full war against all communal elements in the country'.

It is absorbing to read about India's first election called an 'act of faith'. Due credit is given to the chief election commissioner Sukumar Sen and thousands of election officers, clerks and policemen for conducting, to quote Sen, 'essentially a law-abiding and peaceful' election.

Nehru was worried about the din created [we all agree!] by the electioneering process and its effect on largely illiterate voters. Having won he also said 'My respect for the so-called illiterate voter has gone up'.

It is indeed true that 'They had their choice between theocracy, chauvinism, communal separatism and isolationism on the one side; secularism, national unity, stability, moderation and friendly intercourse with the rest of the world on the other. They showed their maturity in choosing moderation and progress and disapproving of reaction and unrest'. The biggest gamble had exceeded all expectations.

(I remember attending a public meeting addressed by Nehru at the central college grounds. It was the first time I saw Nehru, though from a long distance. I do not remember the contents of the speech, but I do recall the impassioned style and the many rounds of applause. I also saw Patel around this time. It stands out better in my memory as it was so different, he was seated on a horse drawn victoria and went regally down a broad road near the cubbon park in Bangalore. The impression was that of a strong and stern person and into his own thoughts.

I have vague memories about the 1952 election. But we did campaign for congress. I remember people were taken to the polling both in candidate's cars to vote! Many vehicles were either requistioned or given to the candidates.

It is also time for some name dropping. K.Hanumanthaiya was a classmate and a friend of my father and came to our home for a simple dinner after his election to the assembly. I do not remember any one else being there and it was a nice evening as he was obviously in a good mood, very relaxed and friendly. We had no dining table then and we all sat down on short wooden seats ('Mane' in kannada!) in our dining room. Probably it was the first time a non-brahmin ate at our place!)