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Jawaharlal Nehru on communism, war and peace
Broadcast Date: April 21, 1960
It's the second day of negotiations at the Asian Summit between the premier of communist China, Zhou Enlai, and the Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. China has seized India's border territory and Nehru is negotiating for his country's honour, and perhaps his own political life.
In this 1960 interview, CBC-TV's Blair Fraser speaks with Nehru at his residence in New Delhi. Nehru, 71, discusses his thoughts on communism, the threat of cold war, and his hopes and dreams for a peaceful India: a country where central needs are fulfilled, and every person has an opportunity for growth.
After the interview Blair Fraser describes Nehru as "a great spirit, a great soul, a great man - unmistakedly one of the great men of the 20th century, it was an honour to have met him".
Jawaharlal Nehru on communism, war and peace
• Jawaharlal Nehru was born on Nov. 14, 1889 in the Indian city of Allahbad, situated along the banks of the Ganges River. He was the eldest child of Swarup Rani, the wife of wealthy barrister Motilal Nehru. The Nehru family descended from Kashmiri heritage and belonged to the Saraswat caste of Hindus.
• After being tutored at home and attending some of the most prestegious schools in India, Nehru travelled to England at age 15 to attend Harrow School in London (where he was nicknamed Joe). He then attended Trinity College in Cambridge, where he studied natural sciences. He went on to train as a barrister at the Inner Temple in London. Other popular names for Nehru are Panditji (Scholar) and Pandit Nehru.
• On his return to India, at the age of 27, he had an arranged marriage to Kamala Kaul who was 17. The following year Kamala gave birth to their only child, a daughter, Indira Priyadarshini - who would later go on to a political career of her own (Indira Gandhi).
• Nehru was drawn to the leadership and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, whose motto was "love your enemy". Nehru followed Gandhi's example of a simple lifestyle and abandoned the Western style of dress to which he'd become accustomed, instead, opting to wear clothes which were spun out of khadi (hand woven cloth). Nehru became one of the most loyal supporters of Gandhi. On Jan. 30, 1948, Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist.
• During the 1920s, Nehru was elected president of the All India Trade Unions Congress and along whith Subhash Chandra Bose became the country's most prominent youth leaders, demanding the outright political independence of India. During this time Nehru was arrested and put in prison for activities associated with the congress. Between 1921 and 1946, he spent almost nine years in British prisons.
• On Aug. 15, 1947 Nehru took office as prime minister of an independent India, and remained in that position until his death on May 27, 1964 (aged 74). During this time he introduced a five-year plan (1951), which sought a planned development in agriculture and industry, town and country. He was also known for India's non-alignment policy in which he refused to align with any military or pact of alliance.
Jawaharlal Nehru on communism, war and peace
Medium: Television
Program: Close-Up
Broadcast Date: April 21, 1960
Guest(s): Jawaharlal Nehru
Host: J. Frank Willis
Interviewer: Blair Fraser
Duration: 28:19
Last updated:
Aug. 17, 2010
I am disgusted that CBC cannot even perform simple checks to ensure that spellings are correct. Why is it that in the "Did you know" section for clip #4, "Jawaharlal.." Gandhi is repeatedly misspelled as "GHandi"????
Are these the type of editors you hire CBC? Your writers cannot spell the name of a person who is well known throughout the world?
Is this your attempt at an intellectual documentary???
I am ashamed for you.
Submitted by: mischa1
Thanks for pointing out the error. It has been fixed.
Submitted by: CBC Digital Archives Team