Portal:India/Today's selected article/May 13, 2006



Jawaharlal Nehru was an important leader of Indian Independence Movement and Indian National Congress. He became the first Prime Minister when India won its independence on August 15, 1947. In 1952, India held its first democratic national elections, and he led the Congress Party to a sweeping majority in the Parliament of India. He was leading a combination of old and young Indians all energized by patriotism and the opportunity to finally put their dreams and vision for India into practice. His years were generally peaceful, with the generation of freedom-fighters controlling the Union and state governments and political parties. He also sired the most powerful political dynasty in India's modern history. His daughter Indira Gandhi would become Prime Minister within two years of his death in 1966, and would serve for 15 years and 3 terms. His grandson Rajiv Gandhi would hold that office from 1984 to 1989. (more...)