Jwaharlal Nehru is a much respected figure in Indian History. Thus to write something adverse about him cannot be accepted by a vast majority of his admirers. But at the same time there is a need to critically evaluate his contribution to India and the legacy left behind by him. There is no doubt that intellectually Nehru was a giant, as is borne out by his writings and books. However despite his intellectual standing he as a man appears to have not understood that power politics and the role of nations go hand in hand.

Firstly partition. This was his first and biggest mistake where his ambition to be the Prime Minister Of India put paid to any chance of India remaining united. Jaswant Singh and earlier Leonard Mosley in his book 'The last days of the British Raj' have discussed this aspect. As he had the ear of Gandhi he was able to bring around the Mahatma to accept the two nation theory. The result -creation of Pakistan.But millions of Muslims were still left behind in India.

Once he became Prime Minister his role needs critical evaluation. Firstly he never understood the Chinese philosophy as enunciated by Mao. In his naivety he accepted Chinese suzerainty over Tibet. With mistaken zeal he withdrew Indian troops from Tibet as was in vogue by the British and talked of Hindi -Chini bhai -bhai(brotherhood). He talked of autonomy for Tibet without realizing that words alone could have no effect on the Chinese. The result was painful as his policy led to Chinese occupation of the entire eastern Ladakh (Aksai Chin). His failure to sustain the Indian Army as a potent force and excessive reliance on diplomacy and his world image resulted in Chinese consolidating their occupation. He failed to realize that a nations standing in the world polity of nations is basically on their Military might and allowed the finest trained army under the British to go to seed.

His ill-fated remark that 'I have asked the Army to evict the Chinese'. Triggered the India China war. This is brought out by Maxwell Taylor in his "India's China war". The effect of this was disastrous as the Chinese attacked all along the Himalayas and the Indian Army was badly defeated. Correspondingly Nehru's international image also nose dived and he lost his equanimity.

The Kashmir problem was another blunder for which History will judge him harshly. He appeared to be led by Mountbatten, the then Viceroy and awaited all the while for the signed accession by the Kashmir Raja-Hari Singh before he intervened. This was a massive blunder as Pakistani raiders quickly spread in the valley and routed the Forces of Hari Singh. Srinagar was almost lost till the intervention of the Indian Army saved a difficult situation. It is a moot point that when the Pakistani tribal warriors were advancing into Kashmir and had taken over Gilgit, why Nehru was just twiddling his thumbs. Why did he not ask the Army to be air lifted to Gilgit? Why was he waiting for the accession from Hari Singh? If that had happened Azad Kashmir may have well been with India. Subsequently the Army threw the raiders out from the valley. But the battle took almost 6 months and Nehru had no stomach for this. He then made two historical blunders. Firstly he agreed for a cease fire and reference to the UNO and secondly he made an ill-fated offer of a plebiscite to ascertain the wishes of the Kashmiri people. Both these have cost India dear and now we are saddled with a problem that defies solution.

Even on the home front Nehru was more the idealist than the hard headed political leader. He agreed for the division of India into linguistic states. For 2 thousand years India was never divided or carved up on the basis of language. Yet Nehru opened a can of worms that has now struck at the roots of the Indian nation. Coupled with the caste system, fissiparous tendencies are everywhere. Who will forgive Nehru for all this ?Even in economics his vision of an India with a mixed economy with the core sectors like steel etc with the government and 5 year plans put paid to the progress of India. Surely History will judge him for what he was.