The Discovery Of India

About the Book: The Discovery of India

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, was a thorough intellectual. He wrote The Discovery of India while languishing in British custody for sedition and civil disobedience. A little known fact about the book is that it is actually a compilation of the letters Nehru wrote to his daughter Indira Gandhi while in custody.

The Discovery of India was first published in 1960. Written from a nationalistic standpoint, this book is a must for those who wish to know more about the enigma that is India. This book is an incredible insight into the political and worldview of India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. As an introduction to the history of the world's biggest democracy, Nehru writes about Indian history starting from the Indus Valley Civilisation all the way up to the fight for Indian independence and his role in helping create modern day history. While in parts the book shows an intense dislike for the British, mainly because of the author's as well as his country's circumstances, Nehru is aware of it and acknowledges it. In his writings, Nehru has created a vibrant and alluring story of a country rich in culture and history, from the Cholas and Guptas to the Mughals and the British and finally to an independent country.

About the Author: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru, often referred to as Panditji, was an Indian politician and statesman and a leader of the Indian independence movement. He was one of the founders of the international Non Alignment Movement. In 1947, when India was declared independent from the British monarchy, he became its first Prime Minister. He was in power from 1947 till 1964.