Chacha Nehru

Exactly a hundred and ten years ago in Allahabad, on 14th November, 1889, a son was born to an eminent lawyer, Motilal Nehru and his wife Swaroop Rani. They named him Jawaharlal. He was an exceptional child, brilliant and compassionate and was greatly loved by all. 

His father wanted to give him the best education and so sent him to England to do his M.A. from Cambridge. On his return to India, young Jawaharlal realised that he was not interested in making money through the legal profession. Instead, he was filled with patriotic fervour and wanted to help the poor and the downtrodden. He joined the Congress and Gandhiji in the Freedom Struggle of India and turned out to be an extremely outspoken, honest, practical and illustrious politician. And when India gained its independence, this outstanding statesman was named the first Prime Minister of the country.
 

Nehru's contribution to Society

It can be said that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru is the maker of Modern India as his life and works have influenced our way of thinking, social structures and all round development. He was a perfect blend of eastern values and western thinking and encouraged technological progress. But he was also a man of letters and a great poet and wrote some famous works like, 'Glimpses of World History' and 'Discovery of India'. His letters to his daughter, Indira, was also compiled into a book and reflects his philosophical outlook, his compassion and above all, his tender heart.  
 

The birth of Chacha Nehru

His great love for roses as well as children is a well-known fact. In fact he often compared the two, saying that children were like the buds in a garden. They should be carefully and lovingly nurtured, as they were the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow. He felt that children are the real strength of a country and the very foundation of society. Most importantly he did not discriminate between the s*xes and believed in giving equal opportunities to girls and boys. In fact his own little girl grew up to be the third Prime Minister of India. 

Quite naturally, he was the 'beloved' of all the children who gave him the endearing name of 'Chacha Nehru'. As a tribute to this great man and his genuine love for children, his birthday is celebrated all over India as 'UNIVERSAL CHILDREN'S DAY'. A day of fun and fanfare. It is not only a national holiday, but is celebrated with singing, dancing and storytelling in schools and colleges as well as on radio and television. Special functions are held to honour children all over the country. 
 

The significance of Children's Day

But amidst all this pomp and glory, we should not lose sight of Chacha Nehru's real message. That is providing our children with a safe and loving environment in which to grow as well as giving them ample and equal opportunities through which they can take great strides and contribute to the progress of the nation. This day serves as a reminder to each and every one of us, to renew our commitment to the welfare of children and teach them to live by their Chacha Nehru's standards and example.