Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru had an indissoluble bond of love, reverence, and a common cause. “Jawaharlal will be my successor. He says that he does not understand my language, and he speaks a language foreign to me. This may or may not be true. But language is no bar to a union of hearts. And I know that when I am gone, he will speak my language”, wrote Gandhiji.
In spite of his admiration for Gandhiji, Nehru was never a blind follower of Gandhiji. To Nehru, freedom, dignity of man, refinement and ethical values were as important as economic development for raising the standard of living.
Nehru believed in the ideals of socialism and democracy, and he said, “I am a convinced socialist and believer in democracy, and have, at the same time, accepted wholeheartedly the peaceful technique of non-violent action which Mahatma Gandhi has practiced so successfully”.
