Jawaharlal Nehru’s 125th birth anniversary nears and the tug of war over history has begun. Nehru is our family property, shouts Congress. Nehru neglected Patel, yells BJP. Blasphemy to compare Narendra Modi to Indira Gandhi, says Congress. Indira Gandhi personified Indian nationalism above all else, says BJP. Vivekananda was the icon of Hindu nationalism, asserts BJP. Ambedkar belongs entirely to us, asserts BSP. Shivaji is the exclusive monopoly of Shiv Sena, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh the preferred political symbols for those who want to attack Congress.
As India celebrates the Nehru quasquicentennial this week, the question arises, why are modern India’s heroes all drawn from the freedom struggle or even earlier? The only heroes a globalising India Read More
