The years 1947 to 1964 were crucial in the history of independent India: from the transfer of power to integration of princely states into the Indian union, the drafting of the Indian Constitution, and the first three general elections all took place in this period. Alongside progress in industry, science, and technology and promotion of art and culture, these years were darkened by conflicts with Pakistan and China.

The key arbiter of India’s national programme during those initial years was Jawaharlal Nehru, independent India’s first Prime Minister. To commemorate Nehru’s amazingly versatile contribution to the making of modern India, Nehru Centre, Mumbai organized a series of lectures by eminent scholars, historians, and public figures from across India. Serious and thought-provoking, these lectures collected in this volume dwell on the many aspects of that eventful period: while P.C. Alexander focuses on Nehru’s socialism and foreign policy, and the modernization of India, Karan Singh recounts Nehru’s role in the main events of that era, Subhash Kashyap and Muchkund Dubey present personal narratives, and Jagmohan talks about Kashmir and Nehru’s abiding relationship with the region.

Balraj Puri deals with Nehru’s Kashmir policy, Inder Malhotra focuses on Nehru’s contribution in forming and developing free India into a nation-state, and K. Natwar Singh dwells on Nehru’s policy of non-alignment. In the final lecture, M.V. Kamath recalls his experience of the political scene in India right up to Nehru’s death.