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Gandhi Is Gone: Who Will Guide Us Now? Nehru, Prasad, Azad, Vinoba, Kripalani, JP, and the Quest for India's Soul

Dillon Hayes

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Published in Gandhi Is Gone Who Will Guide Us Now? Nehru Prasad Azad Vinoba Kripalani JP And Others Introspect Sevagram March 1948

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In the wake of Mahatma Gandhi's untimely assassination in 1948, India found itself at a crossroads. The man who had been the nation's guiding light and moral compass for over three decades was gone, and the future of the young republic hung in the balance. In the years that followed, a number of prominent figures stepped forward to fill the void left by Gandhi's death. These men, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses, played a crucial role in shaping India's destiny in the post-independence era.

Jawaharlal Nehru

Perhaps the most prominent of Gandhi's successors was Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru had been a close associate of Gandhi's for many years, and he was widely seen as the natural heir to his mantle. As India's first prime minister, Nehru led the country through its early years of independence, and he played a key role in shaping its foreign policy and economic development. Nehru was a brilliant orator and a charismatic leader, but he was also known for his arrogance and his tendency to brook no dissent.

Gandhi is Gone. Who Will Guide Us Now? Nehru, Prasad, Azad, Vinoba, Kripalani, JP, and Others Introspect, Sevagram, March 1948

by Bradley Steyn

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Jawaharlal Nehru, The First Prime Minister Of India, Was A Close Associate Of Gandhi's And Widely Seen As His Natural Heir. Gandhi Is Gone Who Will Guide Us Now? Nehru Prasad Azad Vinoba Kripalani JP And Others Introspect Sevagram March 1948

Rajendra Prasad

Another prominent figure in the post-Gandhi era was Rajendra Prasad. Prasad was a lawyer and a scholar, and he served as India's first president from 1950 to 1962. Prasad was a quiet and unassuming man, but he was also a wise and respected leader. He played a key role in drafting India's constitution, and he was a strong advocate for the country's secular and democratic values.

Abul Kalam Azad

Abul Kalam Azad was a Muslim scholar and theologian who played a key role in the Indian independence movement. Azad was a close associate of Gandhi's, and he served as India's first minister of education from 1947 to 1958. Azad was a brilliant orator and a prolific writer, and he was widely respected for his intellect and his commitment to communal harmony.

Vinoba Bhave

Vinoba Bhave was a Gandhian disciple who was known for his work in the field of land reform. Bhave believed that land should be distributed equally among all people, and he spent his life working to achieve this goal. In 1951, Bhave launched the Bhoodan movement, which called on landowners to donate land to the landless. The movement was a success, and it helped to redistribute millions of acres of land to the poor.

Acharya Kripalani

Acharya Kripalani was a freedom fighter and politician who served as the president of the Indian National Congress from 1946 to 1947. Kripalani was a close associate of Gandhi's, but he was also a strong critic of Nehru. Kripalani believed that Nehru was too authoritarian and that he was leading India down the wrong path.

Jayaprakash Narayan

Jayaprakash Narayan, also known as JP, was a socialist leader who played a key role in the Indian independence movement. JP was a close associate of Gandhi's, but he was also a critic of the Congress party. In the 1970s, JP led a mass movement against the Indira Gandhi government, which resulted in the imposition of a state of emergency in India.