Bharat Sandhane by Jawaharlal Nehru [Hardcover]

In the 19th century, the renowned statesman Benjamin Disraeli once wrote that when ordinary people are sent to prison or exile, they live in despair, as if they are dead while still alive. But for a man devoted to knowledge, those very days can be the happiest of his life. In the case of Jawaharlal Nehru, this statement holds true in a different way. Though his long periods of imprisonment were undoubtedly painful and arduous, he authored three remarkable books from the darkness of his prison life, each of which radiates timeless brilliance. Discovery of India (Bharat Sandhane) is one such luminous work. Written during his incarceration at Ahmednagar Fort, this book opened a new horizon in the study of history. Nehru did not merely rediscover the vast legacy of civilization and culture that India, as an ancient land, has inherited—he also sought to make its influence on contemporary India perceptible. Moreover, he aimed to provide a clear vision of the ideal future of India. His discussion is as candid as an autobiography, as engaging as a story, and as delightful as literature. Through this work, Nehru establishes the idea that historical inquiry is an extension of self-exploration and that history itself is intertwined with personal identity. He asserts that when independence arrives and opens new avenues for the future, and when the disgrace and failures of the past are overcome, India will rediscover itself anew. With deep self-confidence, the nation will move forward, firmly rooted in its rich heritage while learning from other countries and cooperating with all. At present, India is caught between blind faith in ancient traditions on one hand and indiscriminate imitation of foreign customs on the other. Neither of these extremes can bring peace or lead to true progress. It is evident that India must shed its rigid adherence to antiquity and actively engage with the modern currents of life and thought. However, true spiritual or cultural advancement cannot be achieved through mere imitation. A handful of individuals, detached from the masses and the core of national life, may indulge in this obsession with imitation, but real culture—no matter how much inspiration it draws from the outside world—must be deeply rooted in its own land and people. If we measure everything by foreign standards, art and literature will inevitably become disconnected from the nation’s way of life and will wither into irrelevance.