a critical analysis of nehru

8/11/2019 A Critical Analysis of Nehru

1/23

CritiC l n lysis of nehrus

pros


2/23

[A Critical analysis of nehrus prose]

SUBMITTED TO :

Mr.Pratyush Kr. Kaushik

(Faculty of English)

Submitted

by:

MOHAMMAD ESHTYAQUE ALI

ROLL NO. 943

2

nd

SEMESTER


3/23

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Writing a project is one of the most significant academic challenges I have ever

faced. Though this project has been presented by me but there are many people

who remained in veil, who gave their all support and helped me to complete

this project.

First of all I am very grateful to my subject teacher Mr. Pratyush Kaushik

without the kind support of whom and help the completion of the project was a

herculean task for me. He donated his valuable time from his busy schedule to

help me to complete this project and suggested me from where and how to

collect data.

I am very thankful to the librarian who provided me several books on this topic

which proved beneficial in completing this project.

I acknowledge my friends who gave their valuable and meticulous advice which

was very useful and could not be ignored in writing the project. I want to

convey my sincere thanks to all the people who have helped me directly or

indirectly throughout the project.


4/23

Mohammad Eshtyaque ali

Roll No. 943

2ndsemester

Table of Contents

Chapter-(1)

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................

METHODOLOGY .......................................................................

Chapter-(2)The text of the essay .........................................................................................................................

Chapter-(3)

Context and Explanation of the prose piece.....................................................................................
http://c/Users/hp/Desktop/project%20on%20rte%20act.doc%23_Toc323503514http://c/Users/hp/Desktop/project%20on%20rte%20act.doc%23_Toc323503517http://c/Users/hp/Desktop/project%20on%20rte%20act.doc%23_Toc323503517http://c/Users/hp/Desktop/project%20on%20rte%20act.doc%23_Toc323503518http://c/Users/hp/Desktop/project%20on%20rte%20act.doc%23_Toc323503521http://c/Users/hp/Desktop/project%20on%20rte%20act.doc%23_Toc323503521http://c/Users/hp/Desktop/project%20on%20rte%20act.doc%23_Toc323503518http://c/Users/hp/Desktop/project%20on%20rte%20act.doc%23_Toc323503517http://c/Users/hp/Desktop/project%20on%20rte%20act.doc%23_Toc323503514


5/23

Chapter-(4)

Nehru's prose style............................................................................................................................

Chapter-(5

Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................

Bibliography .................................................................................

Websites .......................................................................................

Chapter -1

INTRODUCTION

This unit acquaints you with the key areas which will make you understand the importance of

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, as one of the foremost Indian writers

writing in English . Besides, you will also get to know much about Nehrus life , personality ,

contribution as a statesman and chiefly as a multifaceted personality .His contribution to the field

of literature , particularly Nehrus essay Animals in Prison is remarkable. The essay Animals

in Prison , reproduced in this unit illustrates Nehrus love for nature and his skill as an essayist .

In the previous unit you must have got an idea about the essay as a literary form. We have

mentioned in unit -1 that an essay is a rather loose form of writing that can range from highly
http://c/Users/hp/Desktop/project%20on%20rte%20act.doc%23_Toc323503526http://c/Users/hp/Desktop/project%20on%20rte%20act.doc%23_Toc323503526http://c/Users/hp/Desktop/project%20on%20rte%20act.doc%23_Toc323503529http://c/Users/hp/Desktop/project%20on%20rte%20act.doc%23_Toc323503529http://c/Users/hp/Desktop/project%20on%20rte%20act.doc%23_Toc323503529http://c/Users/hp/Desktop/project%20on%20rte%20act.doc%23_Toc323503526http://c/Users/hp/Desktop/project%20on%20rte%20act.doc%23_Toc323503526


6/23

learned writings in philosophy or the sciences to very personal ruminations on trivial, everyday

issues. So in this unit, we will straight way move to the life and works of Jawaharlal Nehru along

with an explanation of the prose piece, reference to the context, and Nehrus prose style1. As you

know, Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of India and his life is closely intertwined

with the history and destiny of modern India . He is a lover of children and animals, and

therefore, in the prescribed essay, he describes a period of solitary confinement in Dehradun goal

and narrates his experiences with the different insects, birds, small animals, stray dogs and

kittens and so on. When you read the prose piece, you will notice that your attention is drawn by

his keen observation and his great love for animals. Freedom fighter , nationalist , politician ,

secularist , lawyer , world statesman , uncle ( chacha ) and patriot are some of the words that are

used to describe for Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru , the first Prime Minister of India .But his

distinction as a writer and as one of finest practitioners of non fictional prose in English in India

contend with his other achievements in the field of politics and public affairs . So let us discuss

his life and works to assess his importance as a multifaceted personality. It was the 14th of

November, 1889, when this most illustrious son of India was born. He was the son of Motilal

Nehru and Swaroop Rani Nehru. He was the first Prime Minister of independent India. He was

born and brought up in a political background with his father being a lawyer as well as a

prominent figure in the nationalist movement.His family was politically influential and he had

rather a privileged childhood with European governess and tutors to guide him through the

tender years of his childhood learning. He later studied at Harrow school and the acclaimed

Trinity College, Cambridge. He took the Tripos in Nature Science at Trinity College and then

joined the Inner Temple, London. After a stint at the English Bar, he returned to India in 1912

and joined the Allahabad High Court Bar. In the year 1916, he got married to Kamala Kaul and

their only child Indira Priyadarshini was born the following year.It was in the year 1916, that

Jawaharlal Nehru met Mahatma Gandhi for the first time at an Indian National Congress Party

Meet, and this meeting proved to be a turning point in his life. Another Major turning point came

when Nehru, while travelling on a train, overheard General Dyer gloating over the Jalianwalla

Bagh Massacre, and he vowed to fight against the British.Though Nehru was close to Gandhi

there were frequent differences between them because Nehrus international outlook clashed

1Anonymous, Great English Writing ,http://kkhsou.in/main/EVidya2/english/animal_prison.htmllast viewed on

11th

Apr14
http://kkhsou.in/main/EVidya2/english/animal_prison.htmlhttp://kkhsou.in/main/EVidya2/english/animal_prison.htmlhttp://kkhsou.in/main/EVidya2/english/animal_prison.htmlhttp://kkhsou.in/main/EVidya2/english/animal_prison.html


7/23

with Gandhis simple Indian outlook and views. Yet it was under Gandhis influence that Nehru

entered into an active political life. In 1929, Nehru, who associated himself with the more radical

wing of the National Congress, was elected its President.Nehru was frequently arrested by the

British for political activities and the Civil Disobedience Movement. The next 18 years of his life

were rather eventful in terms of his political activities and of these he spent almost 9 years in

different stints at various jails around thecountry.He is esteemed as one of the most forward

looking, progressive and candid of Indian leaders, though at some levels there is also the

tendency to view him as Gandhis blue-eyed boy whose family background went a long way in

giving him a privileged position in Indian politics. After the independence of India, he assumed

the office of the Prime Minister and served the country in that capacity from 1947-19642. He was

an able leader and led his country through the difficult transition period of post independence,

partition and integration of the princely states into the Federal structure. His tenure also saw two

wars, with Pakistan over Kashmir in 1948 and with China in 1962. He was a strong upholder of

Non-alignment and Democratic Socialism. In January 1964, after 17 years in office he suffered a

stroke and succumbed to it four months later. Thus an eventful life drew to a close. Popularly

known as Pandit Nehru or Panditji or Chacha Nehru, he is one of the key figures of post colonial

India as well as one of its best prose writers. He was a charismatic man who held liberal views.

He was also a profound scholar and thinker. These are some of the aspects that are found in all of

his writing, which include an autobiography and other writings. He studied in some of the best

school in India and England, and then at Trinity College, Cambridge, and then at Inner Temple

in London. He had a sound base in education, a fact which also contributed to his perfect writing

skills. His writings include his Autobiography: Toward Freedom; The Discovery of India;

Glimpses of World History;Letters from a Father to his Daughter, and also Tryst with Destiny,

the historic speech made by Jawaharlal Nehru, considered in Modern India as a landmark oration

that captures the essence of the triumphant culmination of the hundred-year Indian freedom

struggle against the British Empire in India3.

2Anonymous, Mini Biography,http://rrtd.nic.in/jawaharlalnehru.htm, last viewed on 11

thApr14

3Anonymous, Mini Biography,http://www.biography.com/people/jawaharlal-nehru-9421253#entering-

politics&&awesm=~oBZhJzRIXtSWAElast viewed on 11th

Apr14
http://rrtd.nic.in/jawaharlalnehru.htmhttp://rrtd.nic.in/jawaharlalnehru.htmhttp://rrtd.nic.in/jawaharlalnehru.htmhttp://www.biography.com/people/jawaharlal-nehru-9421253#entering-politics&&awesm=~oBZhJzRIXtSWAEhttp://www.biography.com/people/jawaharlal-nehru-9421253#entering-politics&&awesm=~oBZhJzRIXtSWAEhttp://www.biography.com/people/jawaharlal-nehru-9421253#entering-politics&&awesm=~oBZhJzRIXtSWAEhttp://www.biography.com/people/jawaharlal-nehru-9421253#entering-politics&&awesm=~oBZhJzRIXtSWAEhttp://www.biography.com/people/jawaharlal-nehru-9421253#entering-politics&&awesm=~oBZhJzRIXtSWAEhttp://www.biography.com/people/jawaharlal-nehru-9421253#entering-politics&&awesm=~oBZhJzRIXtSWAEhttp://rrtd.nic.in/jawaharlalnehru.htm


8/23

Methodology

The methodology of the present project includes Doctrinaltechniques.

In this research, field work is not required and mere use of library and various website is enough.

The researcher has taken extensive use of books available in the library. The various websites

have been a great importance to the researcher.


9/23

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

Know in detail the life and works of Jawaharlal Nehru.

Get a detailed summary of the prescribed prose

Discuss the major thematic concern of the essay Animals in Prison

Discuss the style and language employed by the writer

Chapter -2

ANIMALS IN PRISON

For fourteen and a half months I lived in my little cell or room in the Dehra Dun Gaol, and I

began to feel as if I was almost part of it. I was familiar with every bit of it; I knew every mark

and dent on the whitewashed walls and on the uneven floor and the ceiling with its moth-eaten

rafters. In the little yard outside I greeted little tufts of grass and odd bits of stone as old friends. I

was not alone in my cell, for several colonies of wasps and hornets live there, and many lizards

found a home behind the rafters, emerging in the evenings in search of prey. If thoughts and

emotions leave their traces behind in the physical surroundings, the very air of the cell must be

thick with them, and they must cling to even object in that little space


10/23

I had better cells in other prisons, but in Dehra Dun I had one privilege which was very precious

to me. The gaol proper was a very small one, and we were kept in an old lock- up outside the

gaol walls, but within the gaol compound. This place was so small that there was no room to

walk about it, and so we were allowed , morning and evening , to go out walk up and down in

front of the gate, a distance of about a hundred yards. We remained in the gaol compound, but

this coming outside the walls gave us a view of the mountains and the fields and a public road at

some distance. This was not a special privilege for me; it was common for all the A and B class

prisoners kept at Dehra Dun. Within the compound, but outside the gaol walls, there was another

small building called the European Lock- up. This had no enclosing wall, and a person inside the

cell could have a fine view of the mountains and the life outside. European convicts and others

kept here were also allowed to walk in front of the gaol gate every morning and evening.

Only a prisoner who has been confined for long behind high walls can appreciate the

extraordinary psychological value of these outside walks and open views. I loved these outings,

and I did not give them up even during the monsoon, when the rain came down for days in

torrents and I had to walk in ankle deep water. I would have welcomed the outing in any place

but the sight of the towering Himalayas near by was an added joy which went a long way to

removing the weariness of prison. It was my good fortune that during the long period when I had

no interviews, and when for many months I was quite alone, I could gaze at these mountains that

I loved, I could not see the mountains from my cell, but my mind was full of them and I was ever

consious of their nearness and a secret intimacy seemed to grow between us.Flocks of birds have

flown high and away. A solitary drift of cloud,too,has gone wandering on,And Isitale with

Chingting Peak, towering beyond.Whenever grow tired of each other,the mountainan I,I am

afraid I cannot say with the poet, Li T ai Po that I never grew weary, even of the mountain; but

that was a rare experience, and, as a rule, I found great comfort in its proximity. Its solidity and

imperturbability looked down upon me with the wisdom of a million years, and mocked at

myvaryinghumoursandsoothedmyfeveredmind.Spring was very pleasant in Dehra, and it was a

far longer one than in the plains below. The winter had denuded almost all the trees of their

leaves, and they stood naked and bare. Even four magnificent peepal trees, which stood in front

of the gaol gate, much to my surprise, dropped nearly all their leaves. Gaunt and cheerless they

stood there, till the spring air warmed them up again and sent a message of life to their innermost

cells. Suddenly there was a stir both in the peepals and the other trees, and an air of mystery


11/23

surrounded them as of secret operations going on behind the scenes; and I would be startled to

find little bits of green peeping out all over them. It was a gay and cheering sight. And then, very

rapidly, the leaves would come out in their millions and glisten in the sunlight and play about in

the breeze.How wonderful is the sudden change fro bud to leaf!I had never noticed before that

fresh mango leaves are reddish- brown, russet coloured, remarkably like the autumn tints on the

Kashmir hills. But they change colour soon and become green.The monsoon rains were always

welcome, for they ended the summer heat. But one could have too much of a good thing, and

Dehra Dun is one of the favoured haunts of the rain god. Within the first five or six weeks of the

break of the monsoon we would have about fifty or sixty inches of rain, and it was not pleasant

to sit cooped up in a little narrow place trying to avoid the water dripping from the ceiling or

rushing in from the windows.Autumn again was pleasant, and so was the winter, except when it

rained. With thunder and rain and piercing cold winds, one longed for a decent habitation and a

little warmth and comfort. Occasionally there would be a hailstorm, with hailstones bigger than

marbles coming down on the corrugated iron roofs and making a tremendous noise, something

like an artillery bombardment.I remember one day particularly; it was the 24th of December,

1932. There was a thunderstorm and rain all day, and it was bitterly cold. Altogether it was one

of the most miserable days, from the bodily point of view, that I have spent in gaol. In the

evening it cleared up suddenly, and my misery departed when I saw all the neighbouring

mountains and hills covered with a thick mantle of snow. The next day Christmas day- was

lovely and clear, and there was a beautiful view of snow covered mountains.Prevented from

indulging in normal activities we become more observant of natures ways, we watched also the

various animals and insects that came our way. As I grew more observant I noticed all manner of

insects living in my cell or in the little yard outside. I realized that while I complained of

loneliness, that yard, which seemed empty and deserted, was teeming with life. All these

creeping or crawling or flying insects lived their life without interfering with them. But there was

continuous war between me and bed-bugs, mosquitoes, and, to some extent, flies. Wasps and

hornet I tolerated, and there were hundreds of them in my cell. There had been a little tiff

between us when inadvertently I think, a wasp had stung me. In my anger I tried to exterminate

the lot, but they put up a brave fight in defence of their temporary home, which probably

contained their eggs, and I desisted and decided to leave them in peace if they did not interfere

with me any more. For over a year after that I lived in that cell surrounded by these wasps and


12/23

hornets, and they never attacked me, and we respected each other.Bats I did not like, but I had to

endure them. They flew soundlessly in the evening dusk, and one could just see them against the

darkening sky. Eerie things; I had a horror of them. They seemed to pass within an inch of ones

face, and I was always afraid that they might hit me. Higher up in the air passed the big bats, the

flying-foxes.I used to watch the ants and the white ants and other insects by the hour. And the

lizards as they crept about in the evenings and stalked their prey and chased each other, wagging

their tails in a most comic fashion. Ordinarily they avoided wasps, but twice I saw them stalk

them with enormous care and seize them from the front. I do not know if this avoidance of the

sting was intentional or accidental.Then there were squirrels, crowds of them if trees were about.

They would become very venturesome and come right near us. In Lucknow Gaol I used to sit

reading almost without moving for considerable periods, and a squirrel would climb up my leg

and sit on my knee and have a look round. And then it would look into my eyes and realize that I

was not a tree or whatever it had taken me for. Fear would disable it for a moment, and then it

would scamper away. Little baby squirrels would come after them, roll them up into a little ball,

and carry them off to safety. Occasionally the baby got lost baby. One of my companions picked

up three of these lost baby squirrels and looked after them. They were so tiny that it was a

problem how to feed them. The problem was, however, solved rather ingeniously. A fountain-

pen filler,with a little cotton wool attached to it, made an efficient feeding bottle.

Pigeons abounded in all the goats I went to, except in the mountain prison of Almora. There

were thousand of them,and in the evenings the sky would be thick with them . Sometimes the

goal officials would shoot them down and feed on them. There were mainas, of course; they are

to be found everywhere . A pair of them nested over my cell door in Dehradun , and I used to

feed them . They grew quite tame, and if there was any delay in their morning and evening meal

they would sit quite near me and loudly demand their food. It was amusing to watch their signs

andlistentotheirimpatientcries.In Naini there were thousands of parrots, and large numbers of

them lived in the crevices of my barrack walls. Their courtship and love-making was always a

fascinating sight, and sometimes there were fierce quarrels between two male parrots over a lady

parrot, who sat calmly by waiting for the result of the encounter and ready to grant her favours to

thewinner.Dehra Dun had a variety of birds, and there was a regular jumble of singing and lively

chattering and twittering, and high above it all came the koels plaintive call, During the

monsoon and just before it the Brain-Fever bird visited us, and I realized soon why it was so


13/23

named. It was amazing the persistence with which it went on repeating the same notes, in

daytime and at night, in sunshine and in pouring rain. We could not see most of these birds, we

could only hear them as a rule, as there were no trees in our little yard. But I used to watch the

eagles and the kites gliding gracefully high up in the air, sometimes swooping down and then

allowing themselves to be carried up by a current of air. Often a horde of wild duck would fly

overourheads.There was a large colony of monkeys in Bareilly gaol and their antics were always

worth watching. One incident impressed me. A baby monkey managed to come down into our

barrack enclosure and he could not mount up the wall again. The warder and some convict

overseers and other prisoners caught hold of him and tied a bit of string round his neck. The

parents (presumably) of the little one saw all this from the top of the high wall and their anger

grew . Suddenly one of them, a huge monkey, jumped down and charged almost right into the

crowd which surrounded the baby monkey. It was an extraordinary brave thing to do, for the

warder and C.O.s had sticks and lathis and they were brandishing them about, and there was

quite a crowd of them. Reckless courage triumphed, and the crowd of humans fled,

terrified,leaving their stick behind them.The little monkey was rescued!We had often animal

visitors that were not welcome. Scorpions were frequently found in our cells, especially after a

thunderstorm. It was surprising that I was never stung by one, for I would come across them in

the most unlikely places on my bed, or sitting on a book which I had just lifted up. I kept a

particularly black and poisonous looking brute in a bottle for some time, feeding him with flies,

etc, and then when I tied him up on a wall with a string he managed to escape. I had no desire

meet him loose again,and so I clened my cell out and hunted for him to everywhere, but he

vanished.Three or four snakes were also found in my cell or near them. News of one of them got

out, and there were headlines in the press. As a matter of fact I welcome the diversion. Prison life

is dull enough, and everything that breaks through the monotony is appreciated. Not that I

appreciate or welcome snakes, but they do not fill me with terror as they do some people. I am

afraid of their bite, of course, and would protect myself if I saw a snake. But there would be no

feeling of repulsion or overwhelming fright. Centipedes horrify me much more; it is not so much

fear as instinctive repulsion. In Alipore Gaol in Calcutta I work in the middle of the night and

felt something crawling over my foot. I pressed a torch I had and I saw a centipede on the bed.

Instinctively and with amazing rapidity I vaulted clear out of that bed and nearly hit the cell well.

I realized fully then what Pavlovs reflexes were. In Dehra Dun I saw a new animal, or rather an


14/23

animal which was new to me. I was standing at the gaol gate talking to the gaoler when we

noticed a man outside carrying a strange animal. The gaoler sent for him, and I saw something

between a lizard and a crocodile, about two feet long with claws and a scaly covering. This

uncouth animal, which was very much alive, had been twisted round in a most peculiar way

forming a kind of knot, and its owner had passed a pole through this knot and was merrily

carrying it in this fashion. He called it a Bo When asked by the gaoler what he proposed to do

with it, he replied with broad smile that he would make bhujjia kind of curry- out of it! he was

a forestdweller. Subsequently I discoverer from reading F. W. Champions book The Jungle

it Sunlight and Shadowthat this animal was the Pangolin.Prisoners, especially long term

convicts, have to suffer most from emotional starvation. Often they seek some emotional

satisfaction by keeping animals pets. The ordinary prisoner cannot keep them, but the convict

overseers have a little more freedom and the gaol staff usually does not object. The commonest

pets were squirrels and, strangely mongooses . Dogs are not allowed in gaols, but cats seem to be

encouraged. A little kitten made friends with me once. It belonged to a gaol official, and when he

was transferred he took it away with him. I missed it. Although dogs are not allowed, I got tied

up with some dogs accidentally in Dehra Dun. A gaol official had brought a bitch, and then he

was transferred, and he deserted her. The poor thing became a homeless wanderer, usually

starving. As I was being kept in the lock-up outside the gaol proper, she used to come to me

begging for food. I began to feed her regularly, and she gave birth to a litter of pups under a

culvert. Many of these were taken away, but three remained and I fed them. One of the puppies

fell ill with a violent distemper, and gave me great deal of trouble. I nursed her with care, and

sometimes I would get up a dozen times in the course of the night to look after her. She survived,

and I was happy that my nursing had pulled her round.I came in contact with animals far more in

prison than I had done outside. I had always been fond of dogs, and had kept some, but I could

never look after them properly as other matters claimed my attention. In prison I was grateful for

their company. Indians do not, as a rule, approve of animals as household pets. It is remarkable

that in spite of their general philosophy of non-violence to animals, they are often singularly

careless and unkind to them. Even the cow, that favoured animal, though looked up to and

almost worshipped by many Hindus and often the cause of riots, is not treated kindly. Worship

and kindliness do not always go together4.

4Text of animal in prison ,http://www.shvoong.com/books/classic-literature/2092487-summary-jawaharlal-
http://www.shvoong.com/books/classic-literature/2092487-summary-jawaharlal-nehru-animals-prison/http://www.shvoong.com/books/classic-literature/2092487-summary-jawaharlal-nehru-animals-prison/http://www.shvoong.com/books/classic-literature/2092487-summary-jawaharlal-nehru-animals-prison/


15/23

Chapter -3

Context And Explanation of the prose

The prescribed prose section is an excerpt from Nehru s Towards Freedom : The Autobiography

of Jawaharlal Nehru. In this section he describes a period of solitary confinement that he had to

undergo at Dehra Dun Goal and has given a detailed account of the sights and sounds he

observed from his cell. He particularly mentions his experiences with the different insects, birds,

small animals, stray dogs and kittens and so on. In reading the prose piece our attention is

constantly drawn to his keen observation and his profound love for animals.Nehru sacrificed his

own comforts and his family life in order to embrace imprisonment for his fight against the

nehru-animals-prison/,last viewed on 11th

Apr14
http://www.shvoong.com/books/classic-literature/2092487-summary-jawaharlal-nehru-animals-prison/http://www.shvoong.com/books/classic-literature/2092487-summary-jawaharlal-nehru-animals-prison/http://www.shvoong.com/books/classic-literature/2092487-summary-jawaharlal-nehru-animals-prison/


16/23

foreign rule . Often he had to stay away from his near and dear ones very frequently. He also had

to live in the most unfavorable conditions in the various prisons where he was lodged during his

association with the freedom struggle and civil disobedience movements. In his autobiography

,he has given a faithful representation of these years and of the zeal that fired the Indians during

those trying times.The present essay offers one of Nehrus most keenly felt moments of joy

amidst the birds , animals and insects seen from within the four walls of the prison in

Dehradun. Animals in Prison is an example of Jawaharlal Nehru excellent prose . In simple yet

evocative language, Nehru describes his stay of fourteen and a half months at his little cell at

Dehra Dun Goal. His term in prison was so long that by the end of it he had gathered a rich

treasure trove of experien cetha the could share with the world.Nehru gives a detailed account of

how he passed his time in the confinement of the cell, waiting eagerly for the evening when he

was allowed the luxury of a brief stroll near the prison gate. This was the time when he could

have a glimpse of the majestic Himalayas which formed the skyline of the Dehra Dun Goal. He

also describes how several insects, birds small animals and even snakes had at times made his

cell a home or had come in like a casual visitor. He says that instead of being afraid or repulsed

he was glad of the diversion that their presence provided. Nehrus love for nature and for animals

alsofindsdescriptioninthepassage.At the very beginning of the passage ,Nehru mentions that he

had become familiar with the dent and mark on the walls of the prison cell. Though he was in

solitary confinement he did not feel alone, because several insects and lizards paid regular visits

to his cell-some even making it their home at different periods of time. Nehru spent fourteen and

a half months in the cell, and in those months variety of thoughts and impressions had passed

through his mind . The pangs of loneliness assailed his mind at times but the appearance of little

tufts of grass, newly grown and the pervading green would be enough to cheer him up. He makes

special mention of the many lizards and colonies of hornets and wasps that lived in and around

his cell. The lizards would remain hidden behind the rafters for most part of the day, coming out

in the evenings to prey on the small flying insects and, sometimes, though rarely, even on hornet

sand wasps.Nehru seems to have been particularly happy in the Dehra Dun Goal, as he mentions,

despite the rather poor living conditions. This happiness was due to the proximity of the

Himalayan ranges, and the spectacular view that he could observe in the course of his brief

evening walks5. These evening walks seem to have been the high point of Nehrus stay at the

5Explanation and context of the prose,http://kkhsou.in/main/EVidya2/english/animal_prison.html, last viewed


17/23

Dehra Dun Goal. He mentions that since the cells were very small, with hardly any walking

place, most of the prisoners were allowed to take a stroll near the prison gates in the evening.

This was the time when Nehru had the pleasure of observing the serene beauty of the Himalayas,

and observe the changing hues of the mountain range at different times of the year. This time of

the evening was deemed very precious by nehru. In the essay, Nehru also points out the disparity

between the living condition of the native and the European inmates of the prison. He states that

the living quarters of the European inmates were without an enclosing wall and thus they could

have an unobstructed view of the mountains as well as the public road outside the prison.

Nehru goes on to mention the psychological effects of long and solitary confinement and also

speaks of the immense value that an outdoor walk can have under such circumstances. So much

did he love these outings that he did not refrain from going out even during the monsoons even

when the relentless downpour of rains compelled him to walk in ankle-deep waters.Nehru quotes

a verse from the poet, Li Tai Po, where the poet expresses his companionship with the

mountains. Though not in full agreement with the quoted lines, Nehru agrees that the closeness

of the mountains gave him a great sense of comfort and security. For him, the mountains seemed

to stand for an eternal spring of wisdom, from which he could draw inspiration and comfort

whenever he was distressed or he felt that hope was shrinking in his heart.

During his stay at Dehra, Nehru also experienced the oncoming of the spring season, perhaps the

most pleasant time of the year at Dehra. He goes on to give a vivid sketch of the peculiar beauty

of the trees that have shed their leaves and now stand bare awaiting new spring leaves to sprout.

Nehru also goes on to describe the ecstasy of the sprouting of new leaves as once again the trees

are blessed by spring with a new deluge of tender green leaves. Nehrus acute observation is to

be noted here as he makes a special mention of the different hues that the leaves of a mango tree

has, turning from a reddish-brown, to russet and finally to green as it reaches full maturity.

Nehru then goes on to describe the monsoon season, which brings a welcome respite from the

stifling summer heat. But the rains also bring in their wake ankle-deep water and mud. He

remarks that it was very uncomfortable to be cooped up within the confines of the cell during

suchweather.From his description of spring and summer at Dehra Dun-as well as of the rains,

Nehru proceeds to describe the winter. This is the season of intense cold that leaves one with

on 11th

Apr14


18/23

yearning for the warmth and comfort of home. It would become even more uncomfortable when

sometimes it rained in winter. There would be hailstorms too with hail as large as a marble

peltingdown,makingatremendousdinontheroof.Nehru draws a vivid picture of the Christmas Day

that he had spent at the jail. He remembers the 24th of December, 1932, as a day of incessant

rain and thunder. But the next day, which was the 25th, happened to be exactly the opposite. The

day was clear and the snow laden mountain tops were clearly visible to the inmates of the

jail.This was clearly a picture post card for nehru. During the winters, particularly when it rained,

the prisoners were compelled to remain indoors at all times. At such times, Nehru remarks, the

mans observation of nature becomes even more acute .Being confined to his cell for long

periods Nehru was made to watch his surroundings more carefully and it was thus that he

discovered various creatures of all shapes and sizes- flying creatures, creeping or crawling

creatures, all living together in a mature co-habitation and without disturbing him in any way.

Nehru too decided to leave them in peace. So there lived man and nature-peacefully, and in

harmony.The only creature to which Nehru took a dislike was the bat. And unfortunately there

were quite a number of bats, big and small, that flew by, nearly touching his face, at times.

Sometimes Nehru would while away his time matching the numerous colonies of ants that lived

in the vicinity. Sometimes he watched the lizards as they darted about the cell in search of prey.

He seemed to be particularly fascinated by the squirrels. He mentions particular instances when,

misled by his stillness as he sat reading in his cell, a squirrel would climb on to his knee and

settle there for a while, scampering away as soon as it realized with fright that Nehru was a

living thing. He also mentions how a fellow inmate had adapted three baby squirrels which had

to be fed initially with the filler of a fountain pen. All these examples not only show Nehrus

interest in Nature but also the great love and compassion that he carried in his heart for all living

things whether they belonged to the plant or the animal world.This love and compassion was not

a common feature in all men. Nehru goes on to show with specific examples how mans greed

tends to disrupt this peaceful co-existence between men and animals,or men and plants.Nehru

had observed the animal life at every jail that he was sent to. He finds that certain creatures are to

be commonly found at different jails. The most common among them , according to Nehru, are

the pigeons. He also mentions how certain gaol officials would shoot these birds down without a

thought ,and enjoy them in their meal. Another bird found often was the maina . Nehru

remembers a time when he had made a habit of feeding a pair of mainas from his leftovers and


19/23

how at any delay they would chirp loudly demanding that they be fed.Nehru goes on to describe

his experiences at Naini Prison too. Here, he had the company of a large number of parrots and

he took great pleasure in watching their antics and hearing their crackle. Nehrus observation of

birds was not restricted to the Naini gaol alone because in Dehra Dun too, he had the opportunity

to see and hear a variety of birds, small ones like the Koel and the brain fever birds , as well as

the majestic kite and eagle.Nehru shares a rather humorous experience that he once had in the

gaol at Barrielly which had a large number of monkeys all around. Here Nehru had witnessed

several instances of man-animal conflict of which he cites a particular instance of how a baby

monkey was rescued from the clutches of some of nehrus fellow in mates by another large

monkey.As Nehru himself remarks, not all visitors were welcome specially the snakes or

centipedes were not at all welcome . Nehru seemed to have a special dislike for the centipede ;it

is not only a dislike but also a fear of the snake in particular To his acute discomfort Nehru had

snakes as visitors to his cell at different jails , quite a few times6 .Sometimes such accidental

visits also found their way into Newspaper headlines, and quite a hue and cry was caused by

about such visitations. Not all the animals that Nehru saw during his terms were known to him.

Some of them were new and one such animal which he saw at Dehra Dun was the Pangolin.

Nehru describes this strange, rather, uncouth animal as a cross between a lizard and a crocodile

but with scales covering its body. It is known as Bo in the local dialect. Nehru tells us, that the

Pangolin is eaten by the forest dwellers.Visits by stray animals and birds are welcomed by most

prisoners who find a welcome distraction in them in their lonesome life in cells. At times, as

Nehru informs us, certain prisoners also developed an emotional bond with or dependence on

such stray animals keeping them as pets and doting upon them and feeding them out of their own

share of food. Nehru shows a few of his own experiences where he had looked after sick animals

at the different prisons where he served his terms. He mentions that here he had more time to be

with animals or to observe them than he had in the outside world where other workkepthimpre-

occupied.Pandit Nehru concludes his writing on animals by a reference to the different animals

chosen by different countries as their National animal. He thus refers to the Eagle of USA and

German, the lion and Bull dog of England, the fighting Cock of France and the Bear of Russia .

He remarks that the adoption of these animals could perhaps be responsible for the violent and

6Explanation and context of the prose,http://kkhsou.in/main/EVidya2/english/animal_prison.html,last viewed on

11th

Apr14


20/23

greedy streak in the citizens of these countries while the adoption of the meek and docile cow

as National animal could perhaps explain the non-violent and tolerant nature of the Indians.

Chapter -4

Nehrus prose style

Pandit Nehru is an iconic figure in the realm of Indian English Prose writing. Nehrus writings,

particularly his books Glimpses of World History, Letters from a Father to his Daughter, and the

autobiography Toward Freedom, show Nehrus mastery in English Prose and depth of ideas

besides also highlighting his world view. His autobiography highlights his pre-occupations with

nation building, the idea of India as a nation-state, his views on India and on being Indian as well


21/23

as his personal experiences during and after freedom struggle. ButNehru s achievent as a writer

command sequal respect,if not more ,as his contribution as a statesman.Nehrus prose style is

perhaps among the best in the world, with its innate simplicity, honesty and eye for evocative

detail.Though Nehru did not claim for himself the title of a write, it is evident from his

voluminous writings that he lost no opportunity to write. His writing did full justice to the grace

and rhythm of the English language. His powers of observation were commendable, and this is

very much in evidence in the prescribed prose piece Animals in Prison. Frank Moraes, one of

his best biographers writes that, at its best, Nehrus style shows a vigour and clarity pleasing and

compelling to the ear as to the mind. In terms of his writing he stands together with Mahatma

Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore who were also good writers of Prose. Though not a

professional writer Pandit Nehru played a considerable role in shaping the birth and development

of English prose in India leaving behind a legacy for which the world will always hold him in

esteem. What is more striking about the style in Animals In Prison is its utter lucidity. Nehru

uses a simple, easily understandable language which is so deftly used as to give a vivid picture of

the objects he describes7.

Chapter -5

CONCLUSION

This unit discusses Nehrus essay, Animals in Prison, an extract from his autobiography

Toward Freedom. Nehru is one of the greatest prose writers India has produced. His

extraordinary contribution to Indian public life from the days he joined the freedom movement to

assuming the most onerous responsibility as the first Prime Minister of the fledgling democracy

is recalled by the people of India with awe and reverence. But the essay under discussion shows

Nehrus extraordinary gift as a writer with his mastery over English Language and insight into

life that includes the world of a good number of animals, birds and insects in Dehradun and

Naini jails where he had to spend many months as political prisoner. He comes across as a

7Prose style,http://yabaluri.org/TRIVENI/CDWEB/jawaharlalnehruoct94.htm, last viewed on 11

thApr14
http://yabaluri.org/TRIVENI/CDWEB/jawaharlalnehruoct94.htmhttp://yabaluri.org/TRIVENI/CDWEB/jawaharlalnehruoct94.htmhttp://yabaluri.org/TRIVENI/CDWEB/jawaharlalnehruoct94.htmhttp://yabaluri.org/TRIVENI/CDWEB/jawaharlalnehruoct94.htm


22/23

compassionate observer of the animal behaviour, one who shares a bond of affection with the

animals. Nehrus style and technique is another important highlight of the discussion in this unit.

A few important expressions in the essay have been explained to enable the learners to grasp

Nehrus ideas. In the extract, Animals in Prison, Nehru wrote about the various interesting

animals and insects that he came across when he was in Dehra Dun Jail. He lived there for

fourteen and a half months. So he became very familiar with everything inside and outside his

cell. He felt that he was not alone, as many wasps, hornets and lizards too lived there. The cell

and its surroundings were intimately associated with the memories and feelings of Nehru. Nehru

and other prisoners of A and B classes were kept in an old lock-up inside the gaol compounds.

The cells there were very small. So the prisoners were allowed to come out of their cells and

walk up and down in front of the gate. Nehru considered it a great privilege as he could see the

fields, a public road and the Himalayas. The outside walls broke the monotony, boredom and

loneliness. Most of all Nehru could see the Himalayas that he loved. He felt that comfort as longas he was near the Himalayas.Spring in Dehra Dun lasted longer than in the plains. In winter all

the trees including the four great peepal trees in front of the gate shed their leaves. But they

began to sprout small green leaves as the air of spring came. The monsoon rain reduced the

summer heat and they were welcomed. But there was too much rain and it was not pleasant to sit

confined in a narrow cell trying to avoid the water dripping from the ceilings or coming through

the windows. Having no normal activities, Nehru and other prisoners observed the ways of

nature including the various creeping, crawling and flying insects. He had to fight with bed-bugs,

mosquitoes and flies. Once he had to fight against the wasps, one of which had stung him. But at

last he made peace with them. He followed the principle not to interfere with insects-wasps and

hornets etc. - as long as they did not interfere with him.Nehru had some interesting experiences

with squirrels when he was in the Lucknow Jail. The squirrels used to come down from the trees

and come very near him. One day a squirrel came and sat on his knees. Then realizing that he

was not a tree, it scampered away. When the baby squirrels fell down from the trees the mothers

would come down and take them away. Once a companion of Nehru reared three baby squirrels

feeding them with a fountain pen filler. Dehra Dun had a variety of birds. Nehru used to listen to

the koel or the brain fever bird repeating its plaintive note day and night and thus rightly earned

its name. In Dehra Dun, Nehru also watched eagles, kites and wild ducks. While in Bareilly gaol,Nehru saw many monkeys and their interesting antics. One day a baby monkey came down into

the barrack compound. It could not go away as it could not climb the wall. Some people tied a

string around its neck. The parents saw it and grew angry. One of them, a large monkey, came

down charging. The monkey did not fear the large crowd equipped with sticks. The people fled

in fear and the monkey rescued the baby.Nehru quite often encountered scorpions in the prison

cells. Once he caught one and put it in a bottle. When he tied it up on the wall, it escaped and not


23/23

to be found again. Three or four snakes were found in his cells or near them. Once the press got

the news that a snake was found in his cell and that generated some excitement. Nehru like the

digression from the monotony of prison life. Though he feared snake-bite, he had no great fright

for them. He had repulsion for centipedes rather. Once in Alipore gaol he found a centipede

crawling over his foot. He jumped out of his bed in fright, almost dashing against the wall. In

Dehra Dun, Nehru saw a strange animal resembling a crocodile and a lizard both. It was about

two feet long and it had claws and scales. The forest-dweller had twisted it like a knot. He called

it a Bo and he intended to make bhujji or curry out of it. Later Nehru came to kn ow that it

was called pangolin.Prisoners, especially the long term prisoners suffered emotional starvation.

For emotional satisfaction, they often keep pets. Nehru saw the convicts kept pets like squirrels,

mongoose and cats. Once a little kitten became friendly with Nehru. He also looked after a

deserted bitch and her puppies. Nehru enjoyed the company of more animals in prison than

outside. At home, he could not pay much attention to animals as he had to pay attentionelsewhere. Indians, Nehru thought, do not generally, like household pets and are generally

callous to animals. Nehru wondered how they could be callous to animals in spite of their

philosophy of non-violence.

Bibliography:-

URLs:

www.imdb.com

www.lsjunction.com www.online-literature.com

www.forgottenbooks.org

www.sparknotes.com

a critical analysis of nehru

Documents