Children’s Day and Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru

• 18 Nov 2024

For Prelims: Simon Commission, Non-Aligned Movement, Objective Resolution, Tribal Panchsheel, Hindu Code Bill, Bandung (1955), Sino-Indian war 

For Mains: History and Significance of Children’s Day, Contribution of Pt. Nehru in India’s Freedom Struggle and Post-independent India

Source: IE

Why in News?

Children's Day 2024 (Bal Diwas), is celebrated annually on 14th November to honour the birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, born on 14^th November 1889. 

• Nehru (affectionately called Chacha Nehru) is remembered for his strong bond with children and his significant contributions to their welfare. 

What is the History and Significance of Children’s Day? 

• Children’s Rights and Development: The day is observed to raise awareness about the rights and welfare of children, focusing on their education, health, nutrition, and overall development. 
• Earlier Observance of World Children’s Day: World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children's Day and is celebrated on 20th November each year to promote international togetherness, and awareness among children worldwide to improve children's welfare. 
  • 20^th November is notable for the UN's adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. 
  • Following the death of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964, the Government of India decided to dedicate 14th November as Children’s Day to honour Nehru’s legacy and his commitment to children's issues. 
• Significance of Children's Day: 
  • Children's Day underscores the importance of children's rights, including education, protection from exploitation, and healthcare, while emphasising quality education and programs like the Right to Education Act, 2009, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) for holistic development. 
  • India’s policies on child welfare align with international conventions such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 

What are the Contributions of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru? 

• Pre-Independence Era (1889-1947): 
  • Nehru entered politics in 1912, attending the 27th Congress session at Bankipore Congress as a delegate and became Home Rule League Secretary in 1919. 
  • He organised the first Kisan March in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, in 1920 and was twice imprisoned during the 1920-22 Non-Cooperation Movement. 
  • He became General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in 1923. 
  • In 1926, Nehru committed the Congress to independence at the Madras Congress. In 1928, he was lathi-charged while leading a procession against the Simon Commission in Lucknow. 
  • In 1928, Nehru played a crucial role in drafting and signing the Nehru Report (drafted by Motilal Nehru), which was a proposal for constitutional reforms in India. 
  • Nehru also established the Independence for India League in 1928, aiming to advocate for full independence from British rule. 
  • In 1929, at the Lahore Congress, Nehru was elected President, and the Congress officially adopted complete independence as its goal (known as the Purna Swaraj Resolution). 
  • On 7th August 1942, Nehru moved the Quit India Resolution at the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) session in Bombay. 
• Achievements of Jawaharlal Nehru as Prime Minister: 
  • Vision for Modern India: During his tenure as India's first Prime Minister (1947–1964), Nehru established a modern democratic state, promoted secularism and scientific advancement, and laid the foundations for industrialisation. 
  • Social Reforms: At its core, the Hindu Code Bill aimed to replace religious laws with a secular civil code. It sought to outlaw polygamy, grant women property and divorce rights, amend inheritance laws, and introduce inter-caste marriage provisions. 
    • Tribal Panchsheel: Jawaharlal Nehru's Tribal Panchsheel emphasised self-development, respect for tribal rights, minimal external imposition, local participation in administration, and human-centred outcomes over financial metrics. 
  • Economic Development and Institutions: Nehru established key institutions like IITs, the Indian Institute of Management, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO),  
    • These institutes are essential for India's economic growth and emphasise industrialization through the Five-Year Plans for self-sufficiency. 
    • He championed the development of a scientific temperament to fight religious obscurantism and superstition, continuing the legacy of social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy. 
  • Institutionalisation of Democracy: Nehru's 'Objective Resolution' guided the Constituent Assembly in drafting the constitution, shaping the preamble and significantly deciding the philosophy of the Constitution of India.  
  • Foreign Policy of Nonalignment: 
    • NAM: Nehru's nonalignment policy aimed to keep India neutral during the Cold War. He was pivotal in forming the Non-Aligned Movement, promoting global peace at the Bandung (1955) and Belgrade (1961) conferences. 
    • Panchsheel Principle: Also known as the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, are a set of principles that were jointly formulated by India and China in the 1950s. It includes 
      • Mutual Respect for Each Other's Territorial Integrity and Sovereignty. 
      • Mutual Non-Aggression. 
      • Mutual Non-Interference in Each Other's Internal Affairs. 
      • Equality and Mutual Benefit. 
      • Peaceful Coexistence. 
• Criticisms of Nehruvian Policy: 
  • Kashmir Dispute: Nehru’s foreign policy focused on the Kashmir issue, seeking UN support post-1947 partition, but struggled to resolve the conflict with Pakistan. 
  • Goa Liberation: In 1961, Nehru's military action to liberate Goa from Portuguese rule faced international criticism but was seen as a justified anti-colonial step. 
  • The 1962 Sino-Indian War: Nehru’s failure to modernise or upgrade Indian forces before the 1962 Sino-Indian War highlighted the need for enhanced defence measures, forcing a reevaluation of India's military preparedness and strategic approach. 
• Legacy: 
  • Nehru's secular, socialist approach shaped India's post-independence trajectory, laying the groundwork for a modern nation despite challenges like the Kashmir issue and the Sino-Indian war. 
    • Nehru's secularism fostered humanistic values and national development. His ideas, rooted in Indian tradition, emphasised religious equality, humanism, and universal ethics. 
  • Nehru unified India's diverse communities, promoting policies to balance traditional diversity with modern governance. 
    • Nehru concluded that the government must sustain religious diversity, aligning with the idea of separating religion from politics.

Conclusion

Children's Day (Bal Diwas) serves as a reminder of India's commitment to child welfare and education. It underscores the need for comprehensive policies for children's protection, rights, and development. 

Drishti Mains Question

How do Jawaharlal Nehru’s ideas and initiatives continue to shape the nation’s progress as a modern secular state?

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Questions (PYQ)

Prelims: 

Q.What was the exact constitutional status of India on 26th January, 1950? (2021) 

(a) A Democratic Republic  

(b) A Sovereign Democratic Republic  

(c) A Sovereign Secular Democratic Republic  

(d) A Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic 

Ans: (b)

Q. The Preamble to the Constitution of India is (2020)

(a) a part of the Constitution but has no legal effect  

(b) not a part of the Constitution and has no legal effect either  

(c) a part of the Constitution and has the same legal effect as any other part  

(d) a part of the Constitution but has no legal effect independently of other parts 

Ans: (d)

Q. Who among the following were the founders of the “Hind Mazdoor Sabha” established in 1948? (2018)

(a) B. Krishna Pillai, E.M.S. Namboodiripad and K.C. George  

(b) Jayaprakash Narayan, Deen Dayal Upadhyay and M.N. Roy  

(c) C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, K. Kamaraj and Veeresalingam Pantulu  

(d) Ashok Mehta, T.S. Ramanujam and G.G. Mehta

Ans: (d)

Q. Consider the following statements: (2010)

1. The “Bombay Manifesto” signed in 1936 openly opposed the preaching of socialist ideals. 
2. It evoked support from a large section of the business community from all across India. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only   

(b) 2 only  

(c) Both 1 and 2   

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (a)

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Mains:

Q. Discuss each adjective attached to the word ‘Republic’ in the ‘Preamble’. Are they defendable in the present circumstances? (2016)