Opinion: Nehru and Modi — Two eras, Two Indias
Jawaharlal Nehru inherited a broken country and built its foundations; Narendra Modi leads an era of rapid transformation and assertive nationalism
By Chada Rekha Rao
Hardly a day goes by without the ruling party claiming Ramraj and showering failure adjectives on the 1947 government. It is unfair to compare the tenure of different Prime Ministers of India without understanding the vastly different eras they governed.
Nehru’s India
The India that Jawaharlal Nehru inherited was shattered by colonial exploitation — slaughtered, plundered, famine-ridden, and plague-stricken. An illiterate, poverty-ridden nation, struggling to meet the most basic human needs of roti, kapda aur makaan. India would have been a real dead economy (not quoting Trump’s statement).
Nehru carried a vision shaped by enlightenment, science, and rationalism. His early life and education made India what it stands today. It doesn’t matter whether you baptise the Five-Year Plan with Niti Aayog.
Born in 1889 into a wealthy Kashmiri Brahmin family in Allahabad, Nehru was not sent to a traditional school. Instead, his home became a classroom where private English tutors, notably Ferdinand T Brooks, sought not to drill but to ignite curiosity. The root for home schooling started there, a model that modelled the then infant India via the student Nehru. Education speaks softer but stronger.
Under Brooks’s guidance, young Nehru absorbed philosophy, science, and Western literature not as dry syllabus points but as living, breathing ideas. This early exposure shaped the foundation of a mind that revered logic and inquiry. At 15, Nehru was sent to Harrow School, an elite British boarding school that had polished generations of British leaders and administrators. The first Prime Minister, which India was destined to have, was born here.
Amid the stiff collars and rigid discipline, he encountered the traditions of British aristocracy and governance here. The experience not only exposed him to Western civilisation’s power but also its arrogance and class divisions. Later, at Trinity College, Cambridge, he studied Natural Sciences, but his real education was in the libraries and debates.
Writers like HG Wells and Bertrand Russell introduced him to socialism, liberalism, and the challenges of empire and inequality. His legal training at Inner Temple in London finalised his formal education but more importantly, shaped his moral compass. This foreign education never alienated Nehru from India; it forged a man who would bridge two worlds — Western rationalism and Indian tradition. His education prepared him to lead a new India, questioning colonial domination while building a modern secular state.
• Vision
Upon India’s independence in 1947, Nehru faced a monumental task: rebuilding a nation devastated by years of colonial rule and Partition’s horrors. His vision was clear — to create a self-reliant, industrialised, and scientific India grounded in democratic socialism and secularism.
Nehru launched the first Five-Year Plan in 1951, focusing on agriculture and irrigation to feed the nation and prevent famines. He emphasised heavy industries like steel and coal, establishing major steel plants at Bhilai, Rourkela, and Durgapur.
Recognising the importance of education and technology, he founded the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) — institutions that remain symbols of India’s intellectual progress. Established in that era yet they stood the test of time and change and have turned out to be the most coveted institution of learning.
The Bhakra Nangal Dam, which he called the “temple of modern India,” exemplified his belief in harnessing natural resources through science and engineering. Nehru’s approach was rooted in scientific temper and rationalism. He aimed to reduce inequalities by promoting land reforms and cooperative farming. Politically, he committed to secularism and democracy, steering India away from communalism and dictatorship despite internal and external pressures.
• Challenges
The Partition displaced millions, leading to communal violence and humanitarian crises. India faced widespread poverty, illiteracy, and underdeveloped infrastructure. Famine and disease were still realities in many regions.
The 1947 and 1965 wars with Pakistan and the humiliating 1962 war with China exposed the vulnerabilities of the young nation. The mixed economy model and slow growth sparked criticism, but Nehru defended gradual progress over reckless industrialisation. His commitment to democracy was tested by political dissent and opposition, yet he held firm to democratic norms.
• Foreign Policy
Nehru was a founder of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which sought to keep India independent from the Cold War power blocs. His foreign policy emphasised peace, cooperation, and leadership among newly independent nations. He fostered diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union, the United States, and China, though his trust in China faltered after the 1962 war.
Nehru envisioned India as a moral leader for the Global South, advocating disarmament, anti-colonialism, and peaceful coexistence. Despite setbacks, his diplomacy laid the groundwork for India’s enduring commitment to strategic autonomy and multilateralism.
Nehru’s style was scholarly, idealistic, and shaped by socialist thought and secular humanism. Modi’s politics lean toward cultural nationalism, which has energised many while also prompting debate on inclusivity
Modi’s India
Born in 1950 in Vadnagar, Gujarat, into a modest family, Narendra Modi’s early life was marked by humble beginnings. He worked as a tea seller in his youth, which shaped his connection to grassroots India and the common citizen. Modi’s political journey began with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), where he developed his organisational skills and ideological grounding.
His rise within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saw him serve as Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014. His tenure there was marked not just by rapid economic growth, industrialisation, and infrastructure development but also controversy due to the 2002 Gujarat riots.
In 2014, Modi swept to power as Prime Minister, riding a wave of popular desire for change, economic reform, and stronger governance. His image as a pro-development, nationalist leader who could bring global recognition to India resonated widely.
• Vision
Modi’s India is a digital, connected, and assertive global player. His government launched ambitious programmes like Make in India to boost manufacturing, Digital India to expand internet and technology access, and Swachh Bharat to improve sanitation and public health. His push for economic reforms included the historic Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demonetisation to curb black money, though both drew mixed reviews.
Modi’s governance style is marked by strong communication through social media and an emphasis on direct public engagement. He stresses cultural pride and nationalism, seeking to revive India’s ancient heritage while promoting modern growth.
• Challenges
Modi’s tenure has faced significant challenges. Social divisions, communal tensions, and debates over secularism have grown sharper.
The Covid-19 pandemic tested India’s healthcare system and governance on an unprecedented scale. Geopolitically, India has faced rising tensions with China, notably the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, and enduring hostility from Pakistan. Modi’s government has responded with assertive national security measures and diplomatic outreach to maintain regional stability.
• Foreign Policy
Modi’s foreign policy reflects a multipolar, interconnected world. His government has strengthened strategic partnerships with the United States, Japan, Australia, and the European Union, emphasising defence cooperation, trade, and technology sharing. Modi has also prioritised relations within the Indian Ocean region and South Asia through initiatives like the Neighborhood First policy.
He has taken a firm stance on border disputes with China and Pakistan, emphasising national security while maintaining channels for dialogue. His outreach to the Indian diaspora strengthens India’s soft power globally. Participation in global forums such as the G20, BRICS, and the United Nations highlights India’s rising global stature under Modi’s leadership. His emphasis on renewable energy and climate action aligns India with international development goals.
Two Leaders, Two Eras
Nehru and Modi represent contrasting epochs of Indian governance and leadership. Nehru inherited a broken country. His era was one of reconstruction and foundation-building. His style was scholarly, idealistic, and deeply influenced by socialist thought and secular humanism. His leadership was defined by institution-building, economic planning, and cautious foreign diplomacy through the Non-Aligned Movement. Nehru championed democracy with patience and placed faith in scientific temper as a driver of national progress.
Modi’s era, on the other hand, is one of rapid transformation and assertive nationalism. His legacy is still unfolding. His governance is dynamic, media-savvy, and often centralised. Modi’s politics lean toward cultural nationalism, which has energised many but also sparked debate on inclusivity. His foreign policy is proactive, forging strategic alliances in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
While Nehru dealt with the aftermath of colonialism and the creation of a secular democratic republic, Modi governs a middle-income, nuclear-armed power seeking a place among global leaders. Nehru’s approach was cautious and consensus-driven; Modi’s is bold and charismatic.
Legacy and Impact
It is essential to view the leadership of Nehru and Modi not as a competition but as chapters in India’s ongoing story.
Comparing them demands appreciation of context — different challenges, different tools, and different eras. Both have shaped India indelibly. Their legacies intertwine in the nation’s past, present, and future, reflecting the diversity and dynamism of the world’s largest democracy.
(The author is an Academician)
