Dear dp, Pandit Nehru's record as India's first Premier, cannot be, should not be, seen in such stark "black and white" terms. I too am critical of Nehru in lots of important respects. But I think, his heart was in the right place, he loved India, he was NOT corrupt. He did not try to make Indira his successor during his life-time. She almost did not make it. She fought her way against the Congress (Syndicate) and defeated it through her skill. We need to remember the life Nehru led and the influences he came under. His family was nationalistic, Nehru learnt his Fabian socialism in Britain - a socialist thinking that suited post-war Britain only for two decades or so. He spent many years in uncomfortable prisons in India. Lost his wife very early on in his life. He had no time for personal "love" affairs and so on. He believed, "I have miles to go before I sleep".
On the negative side, Nehru, could NOT see how his socialism was breeding corruption in his own party; could not see that Communist countries were not as prosperous as "capitalist" countries; could not see that his land-reforms were not working; could not see that the caste-based election strategy of the Congress was DIVIDING India. He could have been more forceful in declaring, "I want to see this caste-thing kept well away from politics". His words would have carried weight. He could have deliberately selected candidates on their work in a constituency. He could have stopped the VP Singhs and Arjun Singhs.
