- First prime minister of independent India (1947-1964).
- His birthday (November 14) is celebrated as 'Children's Day' in India.
- Arrested by the British as a leader of India's fight for independence.
- Served a total of ten years in jail from 1921 to 1945.
- In prison he wrote "Glimpses of World History", a widely-read book.
- Popularized a style of clothing named after him, the Nehru Jacket.
- Attended Harrow school, and was loyal alumnus for the rest of his life.
- Ranked 4th in CNN-IBN's "Greatest Indian" countdown, behind former Law Minister and constitutionalist Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, former Indian President and father of India's ballistic missiles program Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and India's first Home Minister cum Deputy Prime Minister Vallabhbhai Patel. [2012].
- Despite Indian Armed Forces having gained a significant initiative by driving off Pakistani intruders during the First Kashmir War in 1948, Nehru took the matter to the United Nations without consulting either the then Governor General C. Rajagopalachari or Home Minister Sardar Patel. The resulting plebiscite on instructions of the UN led to the formation of Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir, which Pakistan till date designates as Azad Kashmir(Independent Kashmir) and is frequently used as a base for terrorist training camps.
- Had a long standing rivalry with fellow Independence activist, senior Congressman and India's first Home Minister cum Deputy Prime Minister Vallabhbhai Patel on both personal and ideological grounds. Patel, a conservative, was considered a more competent administrator and was held in higher regard by rank-and-file party members while Nehru, a self-proclaimed liberal, was considered a better campaigner and intellectual at best.
- There were 4 assassination attempts on his life, twice during the independence movement and twice during his tenure as Prime Minister. However, Nehru advised his Chief Of Staff to keep least possible security to avoid disruption of civilian traffic.
- Although considered the "Architect of Modern India", recent revelations of the failures of his domestic, economic and foreign policies have placed him amongst the worst full-time Prime Ministers of India.
- Wanted to retire after the completion of his second term as Prime Minister on turning 70, but was insisted upon by colleagues to continue.
- Was one of the dominant trio of the Non Aligned Movement for democracy in newly independent nations alongside Josip Tito of Yugoslavia and Gamel Nasser of Egypt. Ironically, while Nehru was the publicly elected premier of his state, Tito and Nasser were known to be autocrats, if not totalitarian despots.
- Refused to share the dias with RSS ideologue Vinayak Savarkar during a 1957 function commemorating the centenary of India's 1857 Battle of Independence, based on his continued belief that Savarkar was the key conspirator behind MK Gandhi's assassination despite Savarkar been cleared of any wrongdoing by the Supreme Court of India.
- His refusal to condemn the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956 nearly cooled down US-Indian relations for almost two decades.
- Portrayed by Roshan Seth in GANDHI(1982) as well as BHARAT EK KHOJ(1985-89), Benjamin Gilani in SARDAR(1992), Dilip Tahil in BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG(2013).
- His relationship with his daughter Indira became extremely hostile after Indira, in her capacity as the president of India's ruling Indian National Congress, dismissed the Communist Party Of India led government of the Indian state Kerela in 1960 on false charges of civilian unrest.
- Refused to recognize Israel, controversially stating that the Jewish nation might very well be a political reality but it could never be a diplomatic reality as it would hurt the sentiments of the Muslim votaries of the Congress Party in India.
- Even after his visibly ineffective conduct as Defense Minister and controversies surrounding him in the event of India's defeat against China in 1962, Nehru continued to demonstrate boundless faith in V.K. Krishna Menon, only reluctantly acquiring his resignation on the insistence of the cabinet and the opposition.
- Did not receive a single vote from the heads of the Pradesh Congress Committees during the 1946 election for the Prime Minister's candidature. 12 of the 15 heads had voted for Vallabhbhai Patel while the rest remained neutral. When told of this development, Nehru threatened MK Gandhi that he would rather split the Congress than play second fiddle to someone even as capable as Patel. Both Gandhi and Patel, fearing civil war before and on independence, relented.
- Had a series of affairs with women from across a variety of fields, the most prominent being his fling with Edwina Mountbatten, wife of the last Governor General of India Admiral Louis Mountbatten.
- In order to balance out Congress' equation with industrialists, most of whom felt Nehru post Sardar Patel's death was being less willing to create a competitive economic environment where both the public and private sector could compliment each other, Nehru bought corporate legend J.R.D. Tata on board as senior advisor to the Planning Commission. However, Nehru is said to have notoriously told Tata to never utter the word "profit" in front of him as "it sounded dirty".
- As per recently disclosed documents, Nehru wanted fellow Independence activist and veteran Gandhian Jayaprakash Narayan to succeed him as Prime Minister, but Narayan turned down the offer stating he had retired from politics altogether. Narayan would later be the first to oppose Nehru's daughter Indira's autocratic regime almost a decade after Nehru's demise.
- The Indian styled coat, named after him as the "Nehru Jacket", is frequently worn by the lead antagonists of espionage orientated action films, starting with villains like Dr. No, Ernst Stavro Blofled and Elliott Carver from the James Bond series to the recent Solomon Lane of the Mission:Impossible franchise.
- His over emphasis on heavy industries like coal, steel and engineering overlooking consumer goods and agricultural production left a famine like situation in India at the time of his death.
- Had a moment of silence observed in both houses of the Indian parliament on the eve of the demise of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in March 1953. Ironically, Stalin had called Nehru a closet capitalist on the eve of India's Independence in 1947.
- During an interview on an undisclosed date, he controversially quoted on his much criticized anglophile lifestyle that he would die as perhaps the last British monarch of India.
- As per documents declassified post the Cold War, Nehru received substantial kickbacks for instituting outdated defense equipment supplied to the Indian Armed Forces by both Britain and Soviet Union, amounting to US$ 1 billion when adjusted for inflation.
- Although frequently warned of the threats posed by communists to India's national security, Nehru continued to monitor Hindu nationalist groups like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and it's political off-shoot Jan Sangh for subversive activities. Post Cold War, it was disclosed that Indian communists were frequently on the payroll of the Soviet intelligence for espionage activities via the press and access to parliamentary affairs.
- Unsuccessfully tried to pressurise Dr. Rajendra Prasad to withdraw from the election for the innaugral President of Republic Of India so as to pave way for his preferred choice, outgoing Governor General C. Rajgopalachari. Surprisingly, the only thing Rajaji and Nehru shared in common was their dislike for Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who happened to be backing Prasad.
- Father of Indira Gandhi.
- Grandfather of Rajiv Gandhi and great-grandfather of Rahul Gandhi.
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