Rahul Gandhi Honors Nehru’s Legacy on 135th Birth Anniversary, Emphasizes India’s Democratic Values

On the 135th birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, leaders from the Congress party, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Jairam Ramesh, paid tribute to India’s first Prime Minister, honoring his profound contributions to the nation’s development and democratic values.

Rahul Gandhi Reflects on Nehru’s Democratic and Progressive Values

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, took to X (formerly Twitter) to remember Nehru as the “Jawahar of India,” celebrating his visionary approach to governance and his establishment of democratic, progressive, and inclusive values. Gandhi emphasized that Nehru’s principles continue to guide the nation’s ideals.

He posted, “Respectful salutations to the father of modern India, creator of institutions, first Prime Minister of India, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru ji on his birth anniversary. Democratic, progressive, fearless, visionary, inclusive – these values of the ‘Jawahar of India’ are our ideals and the pillars of Hindustan and will always remain so.”

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also honored Nehru’s legacy, calling him the “architect of Modern India.” He reflected on Nehru’s ability to take India from a struggling nation to one that stood proudly on the global stage.

In his message on X, Kharge acknowledged Nehru’s contribution to India’s transformation across scientific, economic, and industrial sectors.

He wrote, “On the 135th birth anniversary of the ‘Jawahar of India’, the one who took India from zero to the peak, the architect of modern India, the one who made India a developing country in scientific, economic, industrial and various fields, the one who constantly gave the message of ‘unity in diversity’ to the country, the fearless sentinel of democracy and our source of inspiration, we remember his unprecedented contribution to the country.”

Congress Leaders Honor Nehru’s Legacy of Unity, Diversity, and Modern India

In addition, Kharge shared an excerpt from Nehru’s The Discovery of India, further emphasizing the timeless nature of Nehru’s ideals and his role in shaping modern India. This book remains a key work in understanding the vision Nehru had for the nation.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the Congress General Secretary, paid tribute to Nehru by highlighting his belief in fearlessness and selfless service. She recalled how Nehru’s leadership encouraged the Indian public to rise above fear and place the welfare of the nation above all.

In her message on X, Priyanka Gandhi quoted Nehru’s famous line, “Fear is the root of all evil in the world,” which resonates with his opposition to those who aimed to spread fear and disinformation.

She added, “Pandit Nehru always taught the public to be fearless and serve selflessly, while on the other hand, he kept the public supreme at every stage of nation-building.”

Priyanka Gandhi also reflected on Nehru’s role in guiding India through its early years of independence, countering political forces that sought to divide the nation with fear.

She said, “Public servants stand in the forefront with their heads held high so that people can live without fear.” Her message also highlighted Nehru’s enduring influence in shaping the ethos of the country.

Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary for Communications, commemorated Nehru’s leadership, recalling the celebration of Nehru’s 60th birthday in 1949 when an Abhinandan Granth was presented to him by prominent Indian leaders, including Rajendra Prasad and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Ramesh further mentioned that the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund is preparing to release a multimedia digital archive of Nehru’s work, which will be available by his next birth anniversary in 2025. This initiative aims to preserve Nehru’s legacy and present his contributions to future generations.

Nehru’s Influence on Children’s Day and National Development

The Congress party as a whole praised Nehru’s foundational role in modernizing India, noting that he laid the groundwork for a self-reliant nation.

On their official X handle, the Congress posted, “He laid the foundation for a modern and self-reliant India, giving her wings to reach for the stars,” reflecting on Nehru’s lasting influence on the country’s progress.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also joined in the tributes, particularly noting Nehru’s deep love for children. Kejriwal highlighted the efforts of the Delhi government to provide every child with the opportunity to realize their potential, a vision that resonates with Nehru’s own focus on education and child welfare.

Kejriwal posted, “We have created such a system in Delhi where every child can make a bright future by grooming his talent. Our former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru also loved spending time among children. We celebrate his birth anniversary as Children’s Day. Respectful salutations to Pandit Nehru.”