Lesser Known Facts About Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Early life

Before immersing herself into Indias freedom struggle, Nehru was training to be an advocate like his father, Motilal Nehru, and had even enrolled at the Allahabad High Court after graduating from Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1910.

Creator of secural India

Although the Indian constitution was compiled by Dr BR Ambedkar, it was Pandit Nehru who introduced Article 44 to the constitution which sought to establish Indias status as a secular state.

Almost a decade in Jail

During the freedom struggle, Nehru spent 3259 days in jail. He used to campaign against Indian oppression by the British in the form of indentured labour and other gross violations of rights.

INC president

He became the Indian National Congress president on two occasions in 1910 and 1928.

Children's Day

His birth anniversary is celebrated as Childrens Day in India because of his advocacy for the cause of childrens education. He was popularly called Chacha Nehru by children.

Four assassination attempts

Nehru survived four recorded assassination attempts in 1947, 1955, 1956, and 1961.

Stopped wearing western clothes

He stopped wearing western clothes as a protest against the west. The jacket he wore instead came to be known as the Nehru Jacket. He used to compete with children with a rosebude and kept roses in his jacket.

Nobel Peace Prize

He was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize several times from 1950 to 1955. He was nominated by national and international agencies a total of 11 times.

Idea of Complete National Independence

In 1927, he was the first to give the idea of complete National Independence and to refrain from all ties that bond Indians from the British Empire including ICS.

A fan of 555

Nehru was believed to be very fond of smoking. The famous cigarette brand 555 is said to be his favourite brand. There are various pictures of Pandit Nehru in the public where he is seeb smoking.

Wrote his biography during Jail days

Nehrus autobiography Toward Freedom was penned by him while he was in prison during the 1930s. He authored several other books.

More than 1.5 million people attended his cremation

Pandit Nehru died of a massive heart attack on May 27, 1964. It is said that more than 1.5 million people gathered to witness his cremation because he was truly loved by everyone. It was one of the largest gatherings of people, the first being Gandhis cremation.