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Verdicts on Nehru: The Rise and Fall of a Reputation
Compelling, incisive and wonderfully readable. Whether writing about politics or culture, whether profiling individuals or analyzing a social trend, Ramachandra Guha displays a masterly touch, confirming his standing as India’s most admired historian and public intellectual.
30 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2013
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362 people want to read
About the author
Ramachandra Guha
110 books1,599 followersRamachandra Guha was born in Dehradun in 1958, and educated in Delhi and Calcutta. He has taught at the University of Oslo, Stanford, and Yale, and at the Indian Institute of Science. He has been a Fellow of the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, and also served as the Indo-American Community Chair Visiting Professor at the University of California at Berkeley.
After a peripatetic academic career, with five jobs in ten years on three continents, Guha settled down to become a full-time writer based in Bangalore. His books cover a wide range of themes, including a global history of environmentalism, a biography of an anthropologist-activist, a social history of Indian cricket, and a social history of Himalayan peasants.
Guha’s books and essays have been translated into more than twenty languages. The prizes they have won include the U.K. Cricket Society’s Literary Award and the Leopold-Hidy Prize of the American Society of Environmental History.
After a peripatetic academic career, with five jobs in ten years on three continents, Guha settled down to become a full-time writer based in Bangalore. His books cover a wide range of themes, including a global history of environmentalism, a biography of an anthropologist-activist, a social history of Indian cricket, and a social history of Himalayan peasants.
Guha’s books and essays have been translated into more than twenty languages. The prizes they have won include the U.K. Cricket Society’s Literary Award and the Leopold-Hidy Prize of the American Society of Environmental History.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 6, 2019
A set of essays evaluating the past popularity of Nehru and the eventual decline of his reputation. Considers the view points of later critics of Nehru and critically evaluates each of their viewpoints. Also evaluates what could be really termed as his mistakes.
Some points are fair and some are mere biased suppositions of the author.
The length of this makes it more like a preface to a book the author never wrote.
Some points are fair and some are mere biased suppositions of the author.
The length of this makes it more like a preface to a book the author never wrote.
June 8, 2019
An interesting view of a Nehru fanboy, but totally ignored the indo-china war and by large the Kashmir issue for which Nehru is widely chastised for.
August 18, 2019
Nice try to posture the character, but without proper examples and repeating few characteristics throughout the book, but it doesn't seems working. Facts are missing throughout the book.
March 2, 2023
Elegantly written analysis on Nehru’s legacy
Impressive little volume; elegantly written and dense in insights and information. The author clearly holds a favorable view of Nehru; and his biases show through; coming to his defense in most instances; though not averse to criticizing Nehru’s negative policies on some occasions.
Nehru stood amongst the ranks of the great world leaders of the 20th century; in a 100 year period which saw the likes of Tito, Stolypin, Ataturk, Adenauer, Chehab, Salaazar, Deng, and Lee Kuan Yew. Although each of these men were impressive on their own right; what distinguished Nehru from the rest was his facility with the written word and left-ward political bent; in that sense he was more like Abraham Lincoln than a right-wing strongman.
Nehru played a Washingtonian role in establishing democratic norms in his country (many of which were ironically violated by his daughter later on); was vigilant about the rights of minority groups; even when loud clammers were made among some Hindu groups for retribution against Indian Muslims following partition. On the one hand; his commitment to democratic principles was admirable and courageous; especially considering the precarious nature of early-stage democracy, when no doubt many leaders would be tempted to violate norms (i.e. imprison opposition politicians, stifle free speech etc).
But perhaps it would be wise to take a hard-headed look at whether full-franchise democracy was the prudent path for India at the time; given that the critical preconditions of mass education and democratic value inculcation were not present among the populace. Aristotle’s warnings against democracy taking the form of majoritarian demagoguery would be applicable in this instance. Given India’s lackluster economic performance (and to some extent; humanitarian) following Nehru’s rule, a counterfactual where India was governed along a Singapore-style system could very well have been the better path for India.
All that said, one can’t help but admire Nehru as an individual, in some ways the closest India has gotten to a philosopher king. What immediately impresses about the man is his refined style and graceful demeanor. In video interviews with the British press; he comes across as more English than the English themselves. Ghandi too had that noble quality about him; but his ascetic lifestyle left him looking wiry and worn.
Whatever we make of Nehru’s policies or worldview; there is little doubt he is one of the great men of history.
Impressive little volume; elegantly written and dense in insights and information. The author clearly holds a favorable view of Nehru; and his biases show through; coming to his defense in most instances; though not averse to criticizing Nehru’s negative policies on some occasions.
Nehru stood amongst the ranks of the great world leaders of the 20th century; in a 100 year period which saw the likes of Tito, Stolypin, Ataturk, Adenauer, Chehab, Salaazar, Deng, and Lee Kuan Yew. Although each of these men were impressive on their own right; what distinguished Nehru from the rest was his facility with the written word and left-ward political bent; in that sense he was more like Abraham Lincoln than a right-wing strongman.
Nehru played a Washingtonian role in establishing democratic norms in his country (many of which were ironically violated by his daughter later on); was vigilant about the rights of minority groups; even when loud clammers were made among some Hindu groups for retribution against Indian Muslims following partition. On the one hand; his commitment to democratic principles was admirable and courageous; especially considering the precarious nature of early-stage democracy, when no doubt many leaders would be tempted to violate norms (i.e. imprison opposition politicians, stifle free speech etc).
But perhaps it would be wise to take a hard-headed look at whether full-franchise democracy was the prudent path for India at the time; given that the critical preconditions of mass education and democratic value inculcation were not present among the populace. Aristotle’s warnings against democracy taking the form of majoritarian demagoguery would be applicable in this instance. Given India’s lackluster economic performance (and to some extent; humanitarian) following Nehru’s rule, a counterfactual where India was governed along a Singapore-style system could very well have been the better path for India.
All that said, one can’t help but admire Nehru as an individual, in some ways the closest India has gotten to a philosopher king. What immediately impresses about the man is his refined style and graceful demeanor. In video interviews with the British press; he comes across as more English than the English themselves. Ghandi too had that noble quality about him; but his ascetic lifestyle left him looking wiry and worn.
Whatever we make of Nehru’s policies or worldview; there is little doubt he is one of the great men of history.
March 20, 2016
The book offers a summarized generous view of Nehru's legacy. Guha makes valid arguments for areas where Nehru achieves and exceeds but doesn't use the same artistry to dissect his failings.
June 3, 2019
The legacy of Nehru is so vast that it can't be manipulated by false propaganda any party in the veil of Nationalism or in more precise words, jingoism. Nehru was, Nehru is and Nehru will remain as the greatest builder of Modern India. Certainly he is not God, he had done mistakes, sometimes gross mistakes, but one should think that the situations in which he acted and lead the nation democratically, no other PM of India has ever done.
February 23, 2020
Summarily put. Why we may be unfair to Nehru in criticizing him over every decision he made. The author is unabashed about his admiration of Nehru. Good one to read in current times.
November 8, 2018
At the time when once upon a time hero is looked down upon as a villian it's high time we revisit Nehrus legacy. In spite of all the missteps he took he is still the best person to be our prime minister during the first 10 years after independence. When you say that I would have been a tremendously successful person if my parents would gave brought me up in a better way.... they did there best during the resources and ideas that were available at that time.... rings true in case of Nehru also
But about the book this is more of a superficial discussion on this topic.... nothing of a scholarly work nor a historical work. This is just R Guhas thoughts on our first prime minister
But about the book this is more of a superficial discussion on this topic.... nothing of a scholarly work nor a historical work. This is just R Guhas thoughts on our first prime minister
May 21, 2021
To be honest this one's a little biased I would say.
April 16, 2023
0 stars
August 5, 2018
Often, one generation's outcasts become another generation's hero. Owing to the unique place he has in independent India's history as her first and longest serving prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru's reputation took him in the opposite direction. So how did India's most popular statesman for nearly two decades see his reputation being tarnished long after his death?
Personally, I'm an admirer of what Nehru achieved given the circumstances under which he was asked to lead a large nation and its countless complications in infancy. In his objective style, Ramchandra Guha dissects the great man's term with his accomplishments and failures alike to provide his assessment on how the nation fails to recognise it's best ever PM.
But what makes his critical analysis a fantastic read is his ability to take the reader to an alternate history on occasions and help him formulate his own opinion. Here's a sample of what Guha feels Nehru could have done in his time to leave a stronger legacy -
"He could have more actively sought out and nurtured second-rung leaders. His own preference was for non-political types like Homi Bhabha and T.T. Krishnamachari—people who shared his liberal and cosmopolitan world view. However, he did actively try to get brilliant young socialists like Jayaprakash Narayan back to the Congress. I think it a real pity that the best, that is, the most intelligent and idealistic of the young Indians, who were then in the socialist and Communist parties, set themselves up in opposition to Nehru. Had they worked with him and within the Congress in the 1950s and 1960s, as he asked them to do, they might collectively have ended illiteracy and brought about effective land reforms, which were crucial if India was to progress economically."
I may not agree with all of Ramchandra Guha's compelling arguments, but after reading "Verdicts on Nehru", I'm convinced the author is a historian's historian, if there was ever one in India.
Personally, I'm an admirer of what Nehru achieved given the circumstances under which he was asked to lead a large nation and its countless complications in infancy. In his objective style, Ramchandra Guha dissects the great man's term with his accomplishments and failures alike to provide his assessment on how the nation fails to recognise it's best ever PM.
But what makes his critical analysis a fantastic read is his ability to take the reader to an alternate history on occasions and help him formulate his own opinion. Here's a sample of what Guha feels Nehru could have done in his time to leave a stronger legacy -
"He could have more actively sought out and nurtured second-rung leaders. His own preference was for non-political types like Homi Bhabha and T.T. Krishnamachari—people who shared his liberal and cosmopolitan world view. However, he did actively try to get brilliant young socialists like Jayaprakash Narayan back to the Congress. I think it a real pity that the best, that is, the most intelligent and idealistic of the young Indians, who were then in the socialist and Communist parties, set themselves up in opposition to Nehru. Had they worked with him and within the Congress in the 1950s and 1960s, as he asked them to do, they might collectively have ended illiteracy and brought about effective land reforms, which were crucial if India was to progress economically."
I may not agree with all of Ramchandra Guha's compelling arguments, but after reading "Verdicts on Nehru", I'm convinced the author is a historian's historian, if there was ever one in India.
June 11, 2021
Good, light read
Ramachandra Guha's verdicts on Nehru make you think better of him than what the popular opinion has to offer. However, the major drawback roots from the shortness of the text as the degree of detail may not appear satisfactory to most readers. This can be a good book for people who only know of Nehru from their school textbooks and/or the shamelessly baseless claims by his haters.
Ramachandra Guha's verdicts on Nehru make you think better of him than what the popular opinion has to offer. However, the major drawback roots from the shortness of the text as the degree of detail may not appear satisfactory to most readers. This can be a good book for people who only know of Nehru from their school textbooks and/or the shamelessly baseless claims by his haters.
March 29, 2021
This book was probably written prior to the declassification of files. What it lacks is thorough research. Yes, Neheru has indeed upheld some of the true liberal democratic values , and no other prime ministers were as democratic as him but he can not be called the champion of democracy. Here are few excerpts from the book :
Jawaharlal Nehru’s posthumous reputation brings to mind a remark of the nineteenth-century British radical, Edward Carpenter. Carpenter claimed that ‘the Outcast of one Age is the Hero of another’. He clearly had himself in mind, an environmentalist and prophet of sexual liberation ahead of his time. But the case of Jawaharlal Nehru shows that the opposite can equally be true. That is, the Hero of one age can very easily become the Outcast of another.
Why has Jawaharlal Nehru’s reputation fallen so far and so fast? One reason is that as the first and longest-serving prime minister, he was in a unique position to shape his nation’s destiny. He did a great deal, but there is always the feeling that he should have done more—much more. And modern middle-class Indians are, as a rule, very judgemental, especially when it comes to passing judgement on dead politicians. As his biographer S. Gopal once pointed out, Nehru’s ‘very achievements demand that he be judged by standards which one would not apply to the ordinary run of Prime Ministers; and disappointment stems from the force of our expectations’.
Nehru’s posthumous reputation has also suffered from the neglect of scholars and scholarship. There is an intriguing contrast here with Mahatma Gandhi. In his lifetime, Gandhi was looked down upon by intellectuals who, even when they admired his ability to move the masses, thought little of his ideas, which were so completely alien to, and often at odds with, the progressive currents of the day. But after his death the intellectuals have rediscovered Gandhi with a vengeance. In Nehru’s case the trajectory has been exactly the reverse; while he lived, the cream of the world’s intelligentsia crowded around him, whereas after his death they have left him alone.
What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow. An old cliche, which in this case turns out to be surprisingly true. For, Nehru has been for some time now, the least liked of Indian politicians, dumped on from all parts of the political spectrum in all parts of the land. As I know fram experience, It is as risky a business to defend Jawaharlal Nehru in Delhi or Mumbai in 2012 as it was to defend him in Calcutta back in 1982.
Fall of Nehru in the Indian imagination, might reckon 1977 to be the watershed, the year in which the delegitimization of an icon began gathering pace. It brought together three disparate political groupings, united in the first instance by their opposition to Mrs Gandhi. These were the Hindu chauvinist Jana Sangh, the non-Communist (or Socialist) left, and the old style, so to speak, "Gandhian Congressmen.
Jawaharlal Nehru’s posthumous reputation brings to mind a remark of the nineteenth-century British radical, Edward Carpenter. Carpenter claimed that ‘the Outcast of one Age is the Hero of another’. He clearly had himself in mind, an environmentalist and prophet of sexual liberation ahead of his time. But the case of Jawaharlal Nehru shows that the opposite can equally be true. That is, the Hero of one age can very easily become the Outcast of another.
Why has Jawaharlal Nehru’s reputation fallen so far and so fast? One reason is that as the first and longest-serving prime minister, he was in a unique position to shape his nation’s destiny. He did a great deal, but there is always the feeling that he should have done more—much more. And modern middle-class Indians are, as a rule, very judgemental, especially when it comes to passing judgement on dead politicians. As his biographer S. Gopal once pointed out, Nehru’s ‘very achievements demand that he be judged by standards which one would not apply to the ordinary run of Prime Ministers; and disappointment stems from the force of our expectations’.
Nehru’s posthumous reputation has also suffered from the neglect of scholars and scholarship. There is an intriguing contrast here with Mahatma Gandhi. In his lifetime, Gandhi was looked down upon by intellectuals who, even when they admired his ability to move the masses, thought little of his ideas, which were so completely alien to, and often at odds with, the progressive currents of the day. But after his death the intellectuals have rediscovered Gandhi with a vengeance. In Nehru’s case the trajectory has been exactly the reverse; while he lived, the cream of the world’s intelligentsia crowded around him, whereas after his death they have left him alone.
What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow. An old cliche, which in this case turns out to be surprisingly true. For, Nehru has been for some time now, the least liked of Indian politicians, dumped on from all parts of the political spectrum in all parts of the land. As I know fram experience, It is as risky a business to defend Jawaharlal Nehru in Delhi or Mumbai in 2012 as it was to defend him in Calcutta back in 1982.
Fall of Nehru in the Indian imagination, might reckon 1977 to be the watershed, the year in which the delegitimization of an icon began gathering pace. It brought together three disparate political groupings, united in the first instance by their opposition to Mrs Gandhi. These were the Hindu chauvinist Jana Sangh, the non-Communist (or Socialist) left, and the old style, so to speak, "Gandhian Congressmen.
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March 5, 2020The writer is not hiding the fact that he's already in adoration of Nehru. The book is not a detailed account of his life and times but more of a scheme of major accusations made against the first prime minister of India. Even the majority of things are true but the way of narration in not convincing on factual background . Hence I highly doubt wheather we can recommend this book to someone because the risk involved here is probability of backfiring due to narrative style of the writer and admission of fandom towards Nehru.
October 30, 2019
A collection of short essays, Guha pursues a logical approach to the increasingly toxic messaging on Nehru to separate the wheat from the chaff. He acknowledges that some mistakes were made by Nehru but put them in a wider context on what was known at the time. He takes each point of criticism and rebuts it. Though, I would have preferred longer essays for each of those points.
April 22, 2020
Wholesome read.
What an amazingly nuanced piece of writing. I hadn't read Guha before, but I absolutely look forward to doing it, more so now than ever. The book has its biases, yes, but I had always known of him for being from the left, and therefore I had a clue as to what I was in for, so it worked out for me quite okay.
What an amazingly nuanced piece of writing. I hadn't read Guha before, but I absolutely look forward to doing it, more so now than ever. The book has its biases, yes, but I had always known of him for being from the left, and therefore I had a clue as to what I was in for, so it worked out for me quite okay.
February 13, 2019
Good read.
Very good and simple read. For someone who knew nothing more about pandit jawaharlal than he was first prime Minister of India and favourite chacha Nehru, it's great leaning about what was Nehru's role in making India what it is today.
Very good and simple read. For someone who knew nothing more about pandit jawaharlal than he was first prime Minister of India and favourite chacha Nehru, it's great leaning about what was Nehru's role in making India what it is today.
January 20, 2020
A ready reckoner for political leaders across all generations to understand how short lived fame and the fandom is! History scrutinises misdeeds more than good deeds and Pandit Nehru’s loss of fame exhibits this hard truth.
September 3, 2020
Collection of guha at his informal best
It’s almost like sitting and talking to a historian friend and opening up his notes. Guha sews word after word eloquently about a man and his life which gives you a glimmer into how much Guha has researched.
It’s almost like sitting and talking to a historian friend and opening up his notes. Guha sews word after word eloquently about a man and his life which gives you a glimmer into how much Guha has researched.
October 25, 2020
Thnx for making me re-understand Nehruji
The facts and analysis in the book demystifies the fake narrative our 80s n 90s generation has acquired about nehruji. U so simply made him look so humane and not like a villan.a true NATIONALIST... THNX
The facts and analysis in the book demystifies the fake narrative our 80s n 90s generation has acquired about nehruji. U so simply made him look so humane and not like a villan.a true NATIONALIST... THNX
October 19, 2022
Guha's lucid style makes the book readable for young and old alike. He presents both sides of arguments and although he is obviously an admirer of Nehru doesn't shy away from stating facts that go against his idol.
April 30, 2023
The book attempts to give an unbiased verdict on Nehru's work as India's first Prime Minister but as an inference I would say it highlights the dire need of neutral literary compositions on politics and political leaders of all ages.
October 14, 2019
A decent review
It is a good book. Short but sufficient.
Changed my view on Nehruvian Era.
I'm now plannimg to read more books of that era to get a total picture.
It is a good book. Short but sufficient.
Changed my view on Nehruvian Era.
I'm now plannimg to read more books of that era to get a total picture.
November 17, 2019
Excellent piece of writting
It's a book which the contemporary india needs. No matter what the far right elements portray Nehrus legacy will remain as long as time stops ticking.
It's a book which the contemporary india needs. No matter what the far right elements portray Nehrus legacy will remain as long as time stops ticking.
Want to read
January 18, 2020This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2020
This book provides a brief overview of the tragedies and triumphs of Nehru, the Prime Minister. Two of the best bits - 1) The comparison Guha draws between Nehru's reputation and Gandhi's reputation in 21st century India. 2) How the Left and Right converge on one point - their respective ideological opposition to Nehru. Of course this opposition takes different forms.
This can be finished in one session. Do read it if you want to dip your toes in the subjects of Nehru, India and democracy.
This can be finished in one session. Do read it if you want to dip your toes in the subjects of Nehru, India and democracy.
April 18, 2020
Short and Impressive. Good for people who already know what Nehru holds in his bag of legacy.
August 17, 2020
Right decision that I read it
The unbiased approach in representing the facts from various sources makes this small narrative a very appealing and engaging read.
The unbiased approach in representing the facts from various sources makes this small narrative a very appealing and engaging read.
July 7, 2021
A middling book
August 10, 2021
If that infamous all-rounder rejoinder by today's politicians, 'Nehru ki galti' baffles you too, maybe you should read this essay.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews