Motilal Nehru

Motilal Nehru (May 6, 1861 - February 6, 1931) was an early leader of the Indian National Congress and Indian Nationalism. He was also the patriarch of India's most powerful political family, holding power and importance well after 50 years of independence.

Related Topics:
1861 - 1931 - Indian National Congress - Indian Nationalism

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Nehru was a barrister who settled in the city of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. With the success of his practice, he built a large family home, the Anand Bhavan.

Related Topics:
Allahabad - Uttar Pradesh

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In the 1910s, Nehru was a man of many elitist habits and attitudes, and a Westernized lifestyle, and one of the moderate, wealthy leaders of the Indian National Congress. With the ascent of Mahatma Gandhi in 1918, Nehru was one of the first to transform his life (and considering his wealth and long-time Anglicized habits, a quite remarkable achievement) to exclude western clothes and material goods, and adopt a more native Indian lifestyle. To meet the expenses of his large family and large family homes (he built Swaraj Bhavan later), Nehru had to occassionally return to his practice of law.

Related Topics:
Indian National Congress - Mahatma Gandhi

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Motilal Nehru twice served as President of the Congress Party. Although initially close to Gandhi, he openly criticized Gandhi's suspension of civil resistance in 1922 due to the murder of policemen by a nationalist mob in Chauri Chaura. Motital joined the Swaraj Party, which sought to enter the British-sponsored councils, if only in order to wreck the government. The party failed however, and Motilal returned to the Congress.

Related Topics:
Chauri Chaura - Swaraj Party

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The entry of Motilal's glamorous, highly-educated young son Jawaharlal Nehru into politics in 1916, created a celebrative atmosphere, giving birth to the most powerful and influential Indian political dynasties. When in 1929, Nehru handed over the Congress presidency to Jawaharlal (Jawaharlal was elected, with Gandhi's backing), it greatly pleased Motilal and Nehru family admirers to see the son take over from his father. Jawaharlal had opposed his father's favor for dominion status, and had himself not left the Congress Party when Motilal helped found the Swaraj Party.

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Motilal Nehru chaired the famous Nehru Commission in 1928, that was a counter to the all-British Simon Commission. Nehru's Report, the first constitution written by Indians only, conceived a dominion status for India within the Empire, akin to Australia, New Zealand and Canada. It was endorsed by the Congress Party, but rejected by more radical Indians who sought complete independence, and by many Muslims who didn't feel their interests, concerns and rights were properly represented.

Related Topics:
Simon Commission - Australia - New Zealand - Canada

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Motilal Nehru's age and declining health kept him out of the historic events of 1929-1931, when the Congress adopted complete independence as its goal and when Gandhi launched the Salt Satyagraha. He died in 1931.

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