Jawaharlal Nehru Biography and Timeline

Secretary of Indian National Congress

Appointed Secretary of the Indian National Congress, 1st term.

Role range: 1923-1925

Secretary of Indian National Congress

Appointed Secretary of the Indian National Congress, 2nd term.

Role range: 1927-1929

Independence of India

The Lahore session under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru holds special significance as in this session "Poorna Swaraj" (complete independence) was declared as the goal of Indian National Congress

Indian National Congress

The Lahore session under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru holds special significance as in this session "Poorna Swaraj" (complete independence) was declared as the goal of Indian National Congress

President of India

Appointed President of the Indian National Congress

The Independence of India

Publication of "The Independence of India"

Indian National Congress

The committee declares the formation of the Congress defence team for the INA and includes famous lawyers of the time, including Bhulabhai Desai, Asaf Ali, Jawaharlal Nehru. INA Defence Committee, later INA Defence and Relief Committee, is established by the Indian National Congress to defend those officers of the Indian National Army who were to be charged during the INA trials

Interim Government

Jawaharlal Nehru becomes Vice President of the Viceroy's Executive Council and leads the Interim Government.

Role range: 1946-1947

Interim Government

Nehru leads the interim government of India as Britain moves toward transfer of power and partition negotiations continue.

Independence of India

Jawaharlal Nehru becomes the first Prime Minister of independent India as the Dominion of India comes into existence.

Role range: 1947-1964

Partition

Nehru's government confronts mass communal violence and refugee movements following the partition of British India.

Role range: 1947-1964

Prime Minister of India

Appointed Prime Minister of India, the first under Indian independence.

Role range: 1947-1964

First Indo-Pakistani War

Nehru's government commits Indian forces to Kashmir after the princely state accedes to India amid an invasion from Pakistan.

Role range: 1947-1948 – 1947-1964

Gandhi Fast and Pakistan Funds

During Gandhi's fast, pressure increases on the Indian government to release Pakistan's agreed share of partition financial assets.

Role range: 1947-1964

Release of Pakistan Funds

The Indian government agrees to release Pakistan's outstanding share of partition financial assets during Gandhi's fast.

Role range: 1947-1964

Kashmir Dispute

Nehru's government remains engaged in the unresolved Kashmir dispute as India and Pakistan contest the state's political future.

Role range: 1947-1964

Kashmir Ceasefire Line

The ceasefire leaves Jammu and Kashmir divided between Indian and Pakistani-administered areas.

Role range: 1947-1964

Kashmir Ceasefire

A United Nations-backed ceasefire takes effect in Jammu and Kashmir between Indian and Pakistani forces.

Role range: 1947-1964

Treaty of Friendship with Bhutan

India and Bhutan sign a treaty establishing a new framework for their bilateral relationship.

Role range: 1947-1964

London Declaration

India agrees to remain in the Commonwealth after becoming a republic under the terms of the London Declaration.

Role range: 1947-1964

Liaquat-Nehru Pact

Nehru and Liaquat Ali Khan sign the Delhi Pact to protect minority rights in India and Pakistan.

Role range: 1947-1964

Diplomatic Protest

Nehru's government formally protests China's military advance into Tibet.

Role range: 1947-1964

Indian National Congress

After the murder of Gandhi and the death of Sardar Patel, Nehru is the remaining leader

First Five-Year Plan

Nehru's government launches the First Five-Year Plan with a strong emphasis on agriculture, irrigation and development.

Role range: 1947-1964

First General Election

India begins its first general election, conducted over multiple phases from 1951 into 1952.

Role range: 1947-1964

First Lok Sabha Constituted

The first Lok Sabha is constituted following India's inaugural general election.

Role range: 1947-1964

First Elected Union Government

Nehru forms India's first Union government based on a nationwide general election.

Role range: 1947-1964

Panchsheel Agreement

India and China sign an agreement incorporating the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, widely known as Panchsheel.

Role range: 1947-1964

Conference of Bandung

Nehru participates in the Bandung Conference, whose final declaration promotes peaceful coexistence and international cooperation.

Role range: 1947-1964

Hindu Marriage Act

The Hindu Marriage Act establishes monogamy as a legal requirement for Hindus and reforms marriage law.

Role range: 1947-1964

Industrial Policy Resolution

Nehru's government adopts the Industrial Policy Resolution, expanding the planned role of the public sector.

Role range: 1947-1964

Non-Alignment Policy

Nehru continues developing India's policy of non-alignment amid Cold War rivalry.

Role range: 1947-1964

States Reorganisation

Nehru's government implements the States Reorganisation Act, substantially redrawing state boundaries along linguistic lines.

Role range: 1947-1964

Second General Election

Polling for the second Lok Sabha returns Congress to power and gives Jawaharlal Nehru another parliamentary mandate.

Role range: 1947-1964

Dalai Lama Granted Asylum

India grants asylum to the Dalai Lama after he flees Tibet following the uprising in Lhasa.

Role range: 1947-1964

Indus Waters Treaty

Nehru and Pakistani President Ayub Khan sign the Indus Waters Treaty governing the use of the Indus river system.

Role range: 1947-1964

Belgrade Non-Aligned Summit

Nehru participates in the first summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade.

Role range: 1947-1964

Goa, Daman and Diu Operation

Nehru's government authorises military action that ends Portuguese rule in Goa, Daman and Diu.

Role range: 1947-1964

Integration of Daman

Daman passes from Portuguese to Indian control during the December 1961 military operation.

Role range: 1947-1964

Integration of Diu

Diu passes from Portuguese to Indian control during the December 1961 military operation.

Role range: 1947-1964