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Nehru Era - Brought economic upliftment, provided equal opportunities

By PR Chaswal

Nehru was crystal clear in his mind that active involvement of all people was essential in the developmental works, being undertaken at a massive scale in his time to ensure livelihood, peace, and stability in a country like India which was at the threshold of ushering a new era of science, industry, and technology after being deprived of these opportunities for many centuries of alien rule. He, therefore, assigned a predominant role to the Public Sector in various important spheres of the Indian Economy, making the hapless poor man a centerpiece of his economic philosophy. 

He fathered the process of Five Year Plans to pursue the goal of bringing economic upliftment to all the men and women of India with equal opportunities to participate in the gigantic task of nation-building. Though he ensured a major role for the public sector to command the developing heights of the Indian economy, he never belittled the role of private enterprise in the overall Indian economic scenario.

This is a moment to pause and appreciate the glaring fact that, with a country having - 80% illiterate populace, a life expectancy of mere 30 years, an extremely poor economic base, no global standing in the world, and instability due to the massive humanitarian crisis of partition, Nehru, as the premier of this country had the vision of keeping pace with the challenging times and to bring India up as an emerging nation which will not be ignored by the world. In order to do this, he focused on the establishment of a solid base in science, industry, technology, art, and agriculture.

To be continued (4/7)

About the author - A former union leader & banker PR Chaswal, 78, is a published author and editor of e-patrika Anhad Kriti.

He is a fervent admirer of Pandit Nehru, attended two of Nehru’s speeches in person, and also got an opportunity to perform in a skit for Chacha Nehru in 1955.

He is currently staying in America.