Did British Make Nehru Prime Minister?

The question of whether the British played a role in ensuring Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India instead of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is often debated, but there is no definitive evidence to suggest direct British involvement. However, the sequence of events leading to Nehru’s selection reveals the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and the internal dynamics within the Indian National Congress (INC) at the time.

Context: The Leadership Question in 1946

In 1946, as independence was approaching, the Indian National Congress needed to select its leader. This person would eventually lead independent India as its first Prime Minister. Here’s how the events unfolded:

  1. Majority Support for Sardar Patel:
    • During the internal election for the presidency of the Congress Party, 12 out of 15 Pradesh Congress Committees (state units) nominated Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as their choice for the Congress President.
    • This position was crucial, as the Congress President would be the de facto head of the interim government and likely become the first Prime Minister.
  2. Lack of Support for Nehru:
    • Surprisingly, no Pradesh Congress Committee nominated Jawaharlal Nehru.
    • Despite this, Nehru did not withdraw from consideration, possibly expecting Gandhi to intervene on his behalf.
  3. Gandhi’s Intervention:
    • Mahatma Gandhi, who held significant influence over Congress leaders, stepped in and urged Sardar Patel to withdraw his candidacy in favor of Nehru.
    • Gandhi believed that Nehru’s modern, progressive vision and international standing made him a better candidate to lead India in the post-independence era. He also felt Nehru’s popularity among the youth and intellectuals would ensure stability in the new government.
    • Patel, who deeply respected Gandhi, complied with his request and stepped aside.
  4. Nehru as the Leader:
    • With Patel withdrawing, Nehru was chosen as the Congress President and subsequently became the head of the interim government in 1946. This positioned him to become India’s first Prime Minister after independence in 1947.

Did the British Influence the Decision?

There is no conclusive evidence to prove that the British directly influenced Gandhi or the Congress to favor Nehru over Patel. However, certain factors have fueled speculation about British preferences:

  1. Nehru’s Modern Outlook:
    • Nehru’s education in Britain (at Harrow and Cambridge) and his familiarity with Western ideals made him more relatable to British leaders.
    • His emphasis on socialism, democracy, and secularism aligned with the British view of a modern post-colonial state.
  2. Patel’s Strong Leadership:
    • Patel was seen as a pragmatic and decisive leader with a no-nonsense approach. He was instrumental in uniting India through the integration of princely states and was viewed as less likely to accommodate British interests.
    • Some argue that the British may have been wary of Patel’s assertiveness and preferred Nehru’s diplomatic approach, though this remains speculative.
  3. Mountbatten’s Relationship with Nehru:
    • Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, shared a close rapport with Nehru. Their personal friendship and Mountbatten’s preference for Nehru’s vision for India have often been cited as factors that may have influenced perceptions.
    • However, there is no documented evidence that Mountbatten or the British actively lobbied for Nehru over Patel.
  4. Divide-and-Rule Strategy:
    • The British had a history of exploiting divisions within Indian leadership. Some theorists speculate that favoring Nehru, who was seen as more Westernized, may have aligned with their long-term interests of maintaining some influence over India. Yet, this remains a theory without solid evidence.

Gandhi’s Role: The Decisive Factor

While theories about British involvement persist, most historians agree that Gandhi’s intervention was the decisive factor in Nehru becoming Prime Minister. Gandhi had immense moral authority within the Congress, and his decisions were rarely questioned by leaders like Patel, who admired him deeply.

Gandhi’s reasoning for favoring Nehru likely included:

  1. Global Image: Nehru’s international stature, gained through his participation in global conferences and his rapport with world leaders, made him a better choice to represent India on the global stage.
  2. Appeal to Modern India: Gandhi believed Nehru’s progressive ideas on industrialization, education, and socialism resonated with the aspirations of young Indians.
  3. Balancing Personalities: Gandhi may have also seen Nehru’s relatively liberal approach as a counterbalance to Patel’s conservative and pragmatic style.

Patel’s Reaction and Legacy

Sardar Patel, despite his disappointment, accepted Gandhi’s decision with grace and worked closely with Nehru to shape independent India. As the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Patel played a pivotal role in integrating over 500 princely states into the Indian Union, a monumental achievement that solidified the nation’s territorial integrity.

While Patel and Nehru had ideological differences, their collaboration was essential during the formative years of India. Patel’s untimely death in 1950, just three years after independence, meant that his full potential as a leader was never realized.

Conclusion

The decision to make Nehru the first Prime Minister instead of Sardar Patel was primarily influenced by Mahatma Gandhi rather than the British. While the British may have been more comfortable with Nehru’s modern and Western-oriented worldview, there is no concrete evidence to suggest that they directly orchestrated this outcome.

The debate over this decision continues to be a topic of discussion, particularly among those who view Patel’s pragmatic leadership as a missed opportunity for post-independence India. Regardless of the circumstances, both Nehru and Patel played indispensable roles in shaping modern India, leaving behind legacies that continue to influence the nation today.

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