NEHRU’S LETTER TO DAUGHTER INDIRA ON HER BIRTHDAY

- Jawaharlal Nehru
1.What suggestions did Nehru give to Indira in his letter?
Nehru sent many words of prominence and affectionate letters to Indira. He intended to make
her a real Indian, where we too this generation people could get inspired along with her today.
The first prime minister of India made a great contribution to the freedom movement. As a part
of that movement he was in prison, from where he wrote a birthday wishes letter to his daughter
Indira.
He suggested Indira not to do anything secretly for if you are afraid to do it in light then it is a
bad(wrong) thing.
2. What does the phrase’ great drama’ refer to?
the phrase’ great drama’ refer to the great Indian struggle to attain freedom. he is calling his
daughter to become a part in the movement and not one or two but the whole nation was walking
towards freedom. Nehru asks Indira to see how all people belonging to different strata were led
into the movement through Gandhi ‘s speech.

3. Who inspires you the most in your life? What are the qualities that he/she has that you
admire the most? Why do you admire this person?
Write your own answer
There are many people who are disloyal, cunning, selfish, cruel... To their own family members.
I am a person growing up with a great admiration towards this person who could treat others as
she treats herself. I’m mostly inspired by the people who cares for others and consider the need
of others. My inspiration, Mother Theresa, could take abuse, insult, suffering to help the
deceased and needy. I read that she was spit on her face for asking a rich man to give the
remaining biscuit pieces in his shop to the orphan children. I do admire her because we do not
have a person like that now and we will never find one.
You can write your own answer.

4. During the freedom movement, what did Gandhiji focus on?Answer with reference to
the text.
This letter was a true inspiration to every Indian. Now a days we are ignoring punctuality,
sincerity, honesty, patriotism etc which were the key points during our freedom fight. Gandhiji
along with all the other freedom fighters aimed to move each and every citizen of India towards
the movement. He could install a spark of patriotism and courage into many Indian hearts
through his speeches and slogans like “do or die”. Though he was in prison with so many
followers there were people fighting for freedom outside. Mahatma Gandhi worked to make
every individual know the value of their mother land and to build up a great zeal to make it their
own country for ever.
(or)
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was the one who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the
successful campaign for India’s independence from British rule and in turn inspire movements
for civil rights and freedom across the world. Gandhiji was the first to apply nonviolence in the
political field on a large scale. According to the text Gandhi focused on maintaining transparency
in the movement strictly. He was also considered about the number of people taking part in the
movement. It’s his speech which woke up common people to come into the movement.
5. According to pt. Nehru, how does a great leader help?
Nehru emerged as an eminent leader of the Indian independence movement under the tutelage of
Mahatma Gandhi and served India as Prime minister from its establishment as an independent
nation in 1947 until his death in 1964. In this letter Nehru ji mentioned a great leader and his
great role in the freedom movement. He is Mahatma Gandhi well known as the father of the
nation. Great leaders are the ones who could lead, encourage, console, solve, comfort, challenge
etc. And people of this kind will be very few in the world. As the writer mentioned Bapuji is one
unique person of that kind.
6. What does pt. Nehru mean by ‘make friends with the sun and work in the light’?
Nehruji asked Indira to feel as if they were in a conversation because that will leave a permanent
mark over the advice he’s going to give. He advised Indira that their private lives too should be
in ‘light’ but not in darkness where all evil things happens. He also wanted her to make friends
with the sun and work in the light. Here the real meaning for his words was that she should make
friendship with openness, courage (sun) and truth (light). When we live like this we will have no
fault in us.
7. Write your own answer.