Prologue continues....

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was a great respecter of institutions. He was

steeped in the British parliamentary traditions, which upheld the sanctity

of institutions. He used to spend many hours in Parliament and actively

participate in the proceedings of the Houses. Instances showing his strong

commitment to the parliamentary system are legion.

For example, Pandit Nehru used to intervene whenever he found the answer given by a minister in the House unsatisfactory. His active presence in the House contributed greatly towards its smooth running. Once when Speaker Mavlankar wanted to meet the Prime Minister and told Nehru that he would come to his room in Parliament House, a horrified Nehru told the Speaker that he

would come himself and meet him in his chamber. And he did so. For

him it was unthinkable that the Speaker should visit the Prime Minister

in his room as that would compromise the prestige of the high office of

the Speaker.

The supremacy of Parliament was an article of faith with him. Nehru

well understood the dynamics of Parliament, which represented the people’s

will.

Strengthening Parliament and its institutions was an essential part of

his agenda. All healthy traditions and conventions that were followed later

in Parliament were laid down during his period. Politics had a moral and ethical underpinning. A consensual approach towards national problems

was a natural thing. The values that the leaders imbibed and practised

during the freedom movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi

continued to guide them. Of course, it is not as if politics in those days

was absolutely free from conflict areas.

There were many messy situations

and issues. But politics had a certain level of sophistication, a certain degree

of inclusiveness. And Pandit Nehru was a shining symbol of this.

Nehru died in 1964. He was succeeded by Lal Bahadur Shastri as Prime

Minister. This diminutive figure evoked both respect and curiosity in India

and abroad. Shastri was a minister in Nehru’s Cabinet. Nehru had great

faith in his wisdom, sagacity and sense of fairness. So he became Nehru’s

natural successor.

To be continued...