Despite the assaults on Nehru’s legacy, India still lives in the house that he built

Jawaharlal Nehru died 61 years ago on May 27, 1964. He was 74. He had a stroke that morning at 6.25 and lost consciousness almost immediately. He died without regaining consciousness, and according to a member of his household, his death was due to “an internal hemorrhage, a paralytic stroke, and a heart attack”.

He had returned the previous day from Mussourie, “hale and hearty” but Nehru was clearly ailing. Parliament, then in session, and the nation were told about his death at 2.05 pm.

A major event such as this inevitably gives rise to “where were you?” questions. Where were you when Kennedy was assassinated? Where were you when Indira Gandhi was killed? Where were you when the World Trade Center was brought down?

The shock of the event magnifies the immediate around you and imprints itself in your mind. I still can vividly recall the day Nehru died and the moment I learnt about it.

I was in Poona studying German at the Goethe Institute, and after class that afternoon I was cycling into town to meet a friend. As I passed a government building, I saw a flag flying at half-mast. I asked and, when told, a great fear descended over me....

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