New Delhi, April 19: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday offered a deeply personal reflection on the legacy of his great-grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, crediting the country’s first Prime Minister with instilling in him the values of truth, courage, and the unwavering resolve to stand against oppression.
In a candid podcast-style conversation with Congress colleague Sandeep Dikshit—shared via Gandhi’s official handle on social media platform X and on his YouTube channel—the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha delved into what drives him as a political figure and as an individual. Titled “Truth and Courage – What I Inherited from Nehru,” the video provides rare insight into Rahul Gandhi’s emotional and ideological connection with Nehru’s legacy.
“Nehru didn’t just teach us politics; he taught us how to confront fear, stand up for the truth, and fight for justice,” Gandhi said. “His greatest legacy is the courage he gave Indians to rise against oppression and claim their rightful freedom. It wasn’t about power. It was about truth and fearlessness. That’s what I have inherited.”
Gandhi spoke about how Nehru’s relentless quest for truth defined not only his politics but his entire approach to life. “He was a seeker, a thinker, and someone who walked into danger with a smile. He believed in the power of ideas and the transformative potential of truth. That is the essence of what he passed on to us.”
The former Congress president also emphasized that these qualities—truthfulness, empathy, and courage—were not limited to the realm of politics but were deeply rooted in the personal lives of his family. He recalled vivid stories shared by his grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, about Nehru’s deep love for nature and adventure, including an incident where Nehru almost fell into a glacier in the Himalayas.
“These weren’t just anecdotes,” Rahul said. “They revealed a man deeply connected to life and its many dimensions. Whether it was his bond with animals or his strict discipline for exercise, it all reflected his strength of character and presence of mind.”
He noted that these qualities endure in the family’s lifestyle even today. “My mother still spends time watching birds in the garden. I practice judo. These aren’t just hobbies—they’re windows into how we connect with the world. Observing, staying rooted, and cultivating inner strength—these are the traits we carry.”
Expanding on his views, Rahul Gandhi said that the teachings of Indian stalwarts like Mahatma Gandhi, B.R. Ambedkar, Sardar Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Nehru were not about political ideology alone but about internal fortitude. “What they really taught us was how to befriend fear. Their greatest lesson was not socialism or strategy—it was courage. Gandhi faced down the might of an empire with nothing but truth. Nehru gave Indians the bravery to dream of freedom.”
He added that every great human endeavor—whether in science, the arts, or resistance movements—begins with confronting fear. “And if you commit to non-violence, truth becomes your only weapon. That’s the path our greatest leaders chose—and it is the path I choose too.”
Touching on his approach to leadership, Gandhi said that whether he is having a conversation with global figures like Bill Gates or meeting common citizens like Chetram Mochi, he approaches each interaction with equal curiosity and compassion. “True leadership isn’t about domination. It’s about empathy and the courage to speak the truth. In today’s India, where truth is often seen as inconvenient, I have made my choice—I will stand for it, no matter the cost.”