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Message: <blockquote data-quote="John F. Kennedy" data-source="post: 12560994" data-attributes="member: 392188">How Lord Buddha influenced Jawaharlal Nehru <img src="http://a7.idata.over-blog.com/600x747/2/84/57/10/Personalities-Jawaharlal-20Nehru-Getty-20Image-1-copie-1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> While his distaste for  religion in public life may be well known, India's first Prime Minister  Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru was actually deeply influenced by one religious  figure, in whose teachings he often found intellectual solace - Buddha. "The story of Gautam  Buddha has influenced me from my childhood. That influence was two-fold.  First, it influenced me as a story and secondly, I liked the scientific  attitude reflected therein, the scientific and ethical attitude." Nehru  said, as displayed on one of the large placards at an exhibition on  'Lord Buddha through the eyes of Jawaharlal Nehru' at Nehru Museum and  Library. Mridula Mukherjee,  Director, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library speaking at a panel  discussion following the inauguration of the exhibition, said, "Buddha  had a great appeal for Nehru. In fact, it was more than an appeal -- a  truly romantic fascination for the principles Buddha stood for." As a person of reason,  Nehru was naturally attracted by the criterion of rationalism propounded  by Buddha. He favoured the spirit of scientific enquiry and attacked  superstition, rituals and dogma. The exhibition displays big placards  revealing references made to Buddha by Nehru at various points of time  in his life. On display are also beautiful paintings, small statues, books gifted to Nehru on his visits to Buddhist shrines. One of the placards  reads, "I thought of his message which apart from its religious  significance was a message of tolerance, a message against superstition,  rituals and dogma. It was a message essentially in scientific spirit.  The Buddha asked no man to believe in anything except what could be  proved by experiment and trial. All he wanted men to do was to seek the  truth and not accept anything on the word of another even though it be  of Buddha himself. That seems to me the essence of his message...." The influence of Buddha  on Nehru invariably showed in his worldview. His foreign policy always  looked to evolve equations of peace and their sustainance. It aimed at  resolution of conflict. On November 28, 1956, Nehru said, "It is  essentially through the message of Buddha that we can look at our  problems in the right perspective and draw back from conflict and from  competing with one another in the realm of conflict, violence and  hatred." Many such references are  included in the handbook taken out by Nehru Museum and Library.  Professor V P Dutt, a well-known foreign policy commentator, remarked in  the discussion, "He had a temper for peace. It was only his temper for  peace that led directly to the principles of 'Panchsheel' and  'Non-Alignment'." Described on a placard,  Nehru's message to International Buddhist Cultural Conference, Sanchi on  29 November 1952, reads, "The message that Buddha gave 2,500 years ago  shed its light not only on India or Asia but the whole world. The  question that inevitably suggests itself is, how far can the great  message of the Buddha apply to the present day world? Perhaps, it may,  perhaps it may not; but I do know that if we follow the principles  enunciated by Buddha, we will win peace and tranquility for the world." In United Nations General  Assembly, on Oct 3, 1960, Nehru said, "In ages long past a great son of  India, the Buddha, said that the only real victory was one in which all  were equally victorious and there was defeat for no one. In the world  today that is the only practical victory; any other way will lead to  disaster." Nehru's approach to  politics also reflected values reinforced upon him by teachings of  Buddha. His knowledge of Buddhist principles strengthened his immense  regard for a democratic system of representation and impeccable  integrity. Eminent historian Bipin Chandra, expressing his views in the  discussion, said, "Nehru understood the idea that social change can be  brought about by broadest social consensus. This was because of the  great influence Buddha, Ashoka and finally Gandhi had on him." Nehru's speech in Lok  Sabha on March 28, 1957 clearly explains his preference for dialogue and  moderate approach. He had said, "Parliamentary democracy demands many  virtues. It demands of course, ability. It demands a certain devotion to  work. But it demands also a large measure of cooperation, of  self-discipline, of restraint "Parliamentary democracy  is not something, which can be created in a country by some magic wand.  Parliamentary democracy naturally involves peaceful methods of action,  peaceful acceptance of decisions taken and attempts to change them  through peaceful means again." Nehru was deeply  committed to morality in politics. Chandra said, "In 1942, Gandhi  announced Nehru as his successor only because he thought Nehru was best  person to practise morallity in politics and of course, he had great  concern for the poor." Besides, Nehru never  failed to visit Samadhi Statue of the Buddha at Anuradhapura in Sri  Lanka whenever he went there. He first visited there in 1931 and  followed it up by visits in 1939, 1954, 1957 and 1962. Perhaps, as an ultimate  tribute to the two individuals who inspired him most, Nehru said in his  Independence Day speech from Red Fort on August 15, 1956, "One feels  proud that the soil on which we have been born has produced great souls  like Gautama Buddha and Gandhiji. "Let us refresh our  memories once again and pay homage to Gautama Buddha and Gandhiji and  great souls like them who have moulded this country. Let us follow the  path shown by them with strength and determination and cooperation. Rediff <a href="http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/dec/21nehru.htm" target="_blank">www.rediff.com</a> </blockquote>

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