Jawaharlal Nehru: The Prime Minister Who Invested Heavily in India's Research and Education
Introduction
Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, played a pivotal role in shaping the country's future through his emphasis on education and research. This article explores how Nehru's vision and initiatives laid the foundation for India's educational and research landscape post-independence.
Education and Literacy
On August 15, 1947, India gained independence from British rule. The literacy rate at this time was a mere 12%. Recognizing the importance of mass education, Nehru embarked on a mission to provide free and compulsory primary education to every Indian child. He initiated several programs to boost literacy, including the creation of mass village enrollment programs and the construction of thousands of new schools. This can be seen in the progress from 12% in 1947 to 18% in 1951, and a significant increase to 28% in 1961.
Notably, rural female literacy rates saw an impressive growth from 4.87% to 10.10% between 1951 and 1961, representing a remarkable 107.39% increase. Nehru's drive towards equality and access to education for all is evident in these statistics.
University Establishment and Reform
Nehru's commitment to higher education was profound, leading to the establishment of numerous universities and colleges across the country. Below is a list of some of the universities founded during his tenure:
English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad (1958) Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati (1954) Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh (1965) Gauhati University, Guwahati (1948) Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzzafarpur (1952) Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University, Darbhanga (1961) Magadh University, Gaya (1962) Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur (1960) Panjab University, Chandigarh (1947) Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh (1956) Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad (1958)Besides these, many more universities and colleges were established, contributing to India's higher education landscape significantly.
Key Educational Initiatives
To further support education, Nehru initiated the UGC , which was established in 1956 to recognize and regulate universities. Additionally, he introduced schemes to provide free milk and meals to combat malnutrition among children. Some of the notable institutions established include:
AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in New Delhi IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology): IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, and IIT Delhi IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management): IIM Calcutta and IIM Ahmedabad NITs (National Institutes of Technology): numerous NITs across the countryResearch and Development
Nehru also recognized the importance of research and development in a country's progress. Under his leadership, several research and development centers were created, including:
DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organization) in 1958 ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) as INCOSPAR in 1962 BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre) in 1954 Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1954 Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics in 1949 Institute of Mathematical Sciences in 1962These centers played a crucial role in India's technological advancement and scientific research.
Conclusion
Through his visionary policies and relentless efforts, Jawaharlal Nehru laid a strong foundation for India's education and research sectors. His initiatives not only improved literacy rates and established a robust higher education system but also spurred substantial growth in research and development. The seeds sown by Nehru during his tenure continue to bear rich fruits today, contributing to India's global standing in these domains.