Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru (1 November-31 November 1957): Second series, Vol. 40 (Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Second Series) - Tapa dura

Part of the Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru series, this volume includes lectures, writings, letters, speeches, and other literary works of Nehru, covering two months of his Prime Ministership, from 1 November to 31 December 1957. It reveals his wide range of interests in both national and international affairs. Chapter 1 discusses general perspectives, followed by national progress. The subsequent chapters show Nehru's concern for food scarcity. Intensive cultivation and cooperative farming therefore figure prominently in his prescription for achieving rapid growth in agricultural production. The documents also underline the importance of industrial development for India's long term progress and how this was to be achieved by the generation of resources internally. Due emphasis was laid on cooperative movement and self-help.

The volume discusses Nehru's appointment of the Official Language Commission and his special interest in the northeast India. It also highlights his thinking on issues like disarmament, peaceful-coexistence, Kashmir as well as India's relations with Pakistan. A collection of several speeches throw light on India's heritage, child care, Mahatma Gandhi, and India's future prospects.

Mridula Mukherjee is Director of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library in New Delhi. She is also Professor, Centre for Historical Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University.