WOMEN IN THE LIVES OF THE NATIONAL LEADERS OF INDIA: (A STUDY ON PANDIT JAWAHARLAL NEHRU) A Thesis submitted to the University of North Bengal For the award of Doctor of Philosophy in History By Roshani Rai Assistant Professor Department of History Tripura University Suryamaninagar Tripura 799022 GUIDE Dr. Ichhimuddin Sarkar Professor Department of History University of North Bengal September, 2016 ABSTRACT Introduction This dissertation entitled ‘Women in the Lives of the National Leaders of India: (A Study on Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru)’ aims to study the significant influence exercised by women in shaping, moulding and influencing the life of Jawaharlal Nehru. Jawaharlal Nehru shines as a multi-faceted personality amongst the world figures of the democratic system of thought and leadership. Incidentally the political life and activities of Jawaharlal Nehru have been variously projected but whether women had a role in influencing his plan and courses of action have not been sufficiently explored. Therefore this study is intended to show how Jawaharlal Nehru had come in touch with some leading women personalities of his time like Sarojini Naidu, Annie Beasant, Aruna Asaf Ali, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Mridula Sarabhai, Madame Chiang Kai- shek, Lady Mountbatten and many more who had not only given company to Nehru but seem to have nurtured his political ideas and the achievements that he could materialize as a national leader. Besides these women, his own women family members had a great hand in the evolvement of Nehru as a man which led to the emergence of the well- integrated personality of Nehru. His mother Swarup Rani had a great hand in instilling and inculcating traditional values in Nehru which formed a basis of his ideals and visions throughout his life. Kamala Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru’s wife was a great pillar of strength to him. She had a great hand in developing and strengthening the national spirit in Nehru which encouraged and motivated him to fight for the country’s freedom till the goal was achieved. Moreover Nehru’s perception of women was formulated on the i basis of the influence of women. The role of Chitrangada perceived by Nehru for women was in fact inspired from Kamala. Foreign women personalities like Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, Lady Mountbatten also had a great hand in the making of Jawaharlal Nehru. Their guidance and help at the time of the country’s crisis was likely to have soothed his restless mind and showed him the way. Again after independence, Nehru was faced with the herculean task of dealing with the crisis of partition which was marked by riots, arson, loot, etc. In this regard Nehru must have received support from men too to deal with the crisis, but the present study has dwelt upon the notable role played by women to help Nehru to grapple with the crisis and how they helped him in the process of emerging India as a nation. Objectives and Significance of the Study Women played an important role in the life of Jawaharlal Nehru. The objective of the study is to analyze the attitude of Nehru towards women, to assess the formative phase of the political ideologies of Nehru. The study has looked upon the circumstances and issues of interaction and association of women in the life of Nehru and highlighted the role of women to mould the political ideas of Nehru. It also focusses to explore the leadership charisma of Nehru to attract women in Indian politics and nation building. The study has also explored the process of policy making of India and assistance received by Nehru from some outstanding women personalities and finally the vision of India conceived by Nehru and the contribution and support he obtained from women in achieving his desired goal. ii Research Methodology The proposed dissertation has presented a documentary analysis of the materials related to the life and achievements of Jawaharlal Nehru with reference to their direct or indirect association with a large number of women in India and elsewhere. An objective review of the published and printed facts and documents has been made highlighting the psychological and realistic attitude of Nehru. Some private papers, speeches, private notes and newspapers available in various research institutions of India has been consulted and used as sources of data for preparation of the proposed dissertation. A close scrutiny has been made on the published documents and a research parameter thus evolved to understand the personal life of Nehru and at the same time tabulate the multifaceted personality of Nehru. Memoirs and personal narratives of some personalities have also been consulted to establish relationship of Nehru with some women of their time and to explore the stirs to mould the ideology of Nehru as a nationalist and to achieve the goal of India’s independence. Review of Literature There are sufficient amount of both both primary and secondary sources. The important primary sources are the Private Papers of Jawaharlal Nehru and other leading women of his times. Besides the oral transcripts of various women was also helpful in getting insight into the impression held by women about Nehru and how Nehru also exercised a hypnotic influence over them. Newspapers are also important primary source for the study. The Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru in several volumes and iii many parts and the Selected Speeches of Jawaharlal Nehru also constitute the primary sources. The works of Jawaharlal Nehru himself have also provided much needed first hand information. Memoirs of various women is also a part of the primary sources. Secondary sources include the vast collection of books, journals, souveniers, and periodicals. Organization of Thesis INTRODUCTION CHAPTER ONE: Perception of women by Jawaharlal Nehru. CHAPTER TWO: Guiding spirit of women in the life of Nehru- Motivation and Evolution. CHAPTER THREE: The leadership charisma of Nehru and its appeal to Indian women. CHAPTER FOUR: Women in moulding of nationalist orientation in Nehru. CHAPTER FIVE: Imagining Modern India by Nehru- Response of women and its horizon. CHAPTER SIX: Nehruvian leadership and the Women Empowerment in India. CHAPTER SEVEN: CONCLUSION iv University of North Bengal (Roshani Rai) Date: v PREFACE The life of Jawaharlal Nehru is abundantly documented and my interest in the study of Jawaharlal Nehru arose after reading his remarkable pieces of writings in English like Letters from a Father to his Daughter, Discovery of India and many more and a host of other biographies on Nehru. The works on and by Nehru reveal that he was a great man and a leader of unbounded popularity and public esteem. Such a personality of historical importance shone in his own inexplicable glory. His statesmanship and his idealism have earned for him a unique place amongst the world’s great men. He was a great humanist as he had a deep and abiding faith in humanity. He had a profound sense of history and great respect for India’s people and heritage of India. His most outstanding contribution to the people of India was leading the country to freedom which forms a glorious chapter in the history of this nation. After independence he was the builder of modern India and he laid the firm foundation of a strong, vibrant and self-reliant India of his dreams. The impact of his vibrant and magnetic personality on all facets of life in modern India was all-pervasive and far-reaching. In the political field he remains a uniquely endowed personality comparable to the greatest leaders of all times. Fact remains that Nehru was fortunate in enjoying the association and collaborations of host of leaders cum nationalist both Indian and foreign who not only joined their hands in the anti-colonial movement but also dedicated themselves to the process of reconstruction of India after independence. Therefore, it may be seen that horde of works have been produced reflecting on these various facets of Nehru’s life. However the present work would delve into another aspect of Nehru’s life i.e. it would see how vi women perhaps played an important role in moulding, nurturing and influencing the life of Nehru in various ways namely social, political, cultural and in the process contributed to the making of a great national and international leader and a great statesman of his time. University of North Bengal (Roshani Rai) Date: vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The dissertation titled “Women in the Lives of the National Leaders of India: A Study on Pandit Jawahralal Nehru” attained its final form as a result of the invaluable help and support extended to me by various persons and institutions during the course of my research work. At the outset I express my deepest gratitude to my revered guide and supervisor Professor Ichhimuddin Sarkar for his continuous support, encouragement and guidance. He has guided me consistently throughout my writings with his valuable knowledge and insight, the outcome of which is the work in the present form. I also express my debt of gratitude to all the faculty members of the Department of History of University of North Bengal for their necessary help and assistance. I am thankful to the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, Central Library, University of North Bengal, Central Library, Tripura University for letting me access the relevant materials and documents needed for the research work. I sincerely thank Mrs. Ayesha Sarkar for also being a constant source of motivation in the course of my research work. I thank my friend Supriya Biswas, viii Assistant Professor of Gour Mahavidyalaya who was there with me during my research work and rendered me all possible help in every ways. I would also like to express my thanks to my department colleagues Professor Sukhendu Debbarma, Professor Satyadeo Poddar, Dr.