India is a land of contrast and contradiction—and no one better typifies its complex character than the man who helped lead it to independence and now guides its destiny. This is the dramatic story of Jawaharlal Nehru, an aristocrat who became Prime Minister of India and the idol of the masses. An admirer of English culture, he sacrificed wealth and freedom to struggle against British rule. A fiery nationalist, he today seeks international understanding against fierce odds.

Born to an ancient Brahmin family, sent to England to study at Harrow and Cambridge, Nehru might well have enjoyed a privileged life. But when he realized that outside of his society India, under British rule, was a land of poverty and human misery, he knew he had to do something—but what? He joined the Indian National Congress Party, but it seemed no more than a polite debating club, harmless and futile.

Then in 1916, Mahatma Gandhi came to the fore and transformed the Congress into a spearhead of the independence movement, inspiring Nehru to a life of passionate action and courage. Previously shy and withdrawn, Nehru became eloquent as he traveled through India speaking in the poorest villages and slums. His unselfish idealism made him a popular hero and elevated him to the leading ranks of his party.

In 1947, India became independent and Nehru, with the endorsement of Gandhi and the support of the people, became Prime Minister. In the years since, in a nation torn by internal conflict and foreign aggression, Nehru has striven to heal the wounds of the recent past and lead his country to a future of prosperity and peace.

Written with compelling historical clarity, and illuminated by the author's deep understanding of India, its peoples and its problems, this book offers both a rich insight into the background of contemporary events and an unforgettably drawn portrait of human greatness.

From the book