Customer Reviews

Nehru: A Political Life

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Like most of the biographies in the Longman "Profiles and Power" series, this book provides a basic overview of the man and his times, with almost as much detail on the history of the times as the man himself. The Indian pre-independence period is covered, post-independence politics, relations with China, Pakistan and the U.S. (though ironically little is said of relations with the Soviet Union or the third world movement), etc. Hence the reader obtains a basic introduction to the period Nehru was operating in. The book also provides a brief but rudimentary overview of the man. For example, that he came from one of India's wealthiest families, that he received an elite education in both India and England, that while a student in England he went through money hand over fist, etc. Hence, for the layman with no knowledge of either the man or his times, the book provides a basic introduction that is of some value though for those with some familiarity with either the times or the man the book would be far too basic.

As a biography the book fulfills the basics of providing a short introduction to the man. Unfortunately, the book provides little insight into his motivation. For example, the reader obtains no idea of how Nehru, despite being a playboy in England while a student, went from this to a disciple of Gandhi. The reader also obtains no idea as to why, beyond the historical context of the times (i.e., anti-colonial sentiment, etc.) Nehru's policies were so secular and socialist. The biography also does not do a good job in providing an explanation of how Nehru's policies and actions differed from those of his contemporaries.

Hence the book does provide a short rudimentary introduction to the man but really does not provide anything deep or profound over and above that. For any reader seeking something more than a succinct introduction the book has nothing to offer. Then again, books in this series (i.e., like those on DeGaulle and Nasser), were never written for anyone seeking more than a brief introduction to the man covered and his times.

It's not a bad book, but it's very repetitive and not terribly insightful. It reduces Nehru's coming to power to his connection to Gandhi, underexplains Nehru's relationship to a series of domestic crises in India, and really doesn't explain many of the dynamics of independence and its aftermath. It's a quick, easy read, though.