Nation pays tribute to Pandit Nehru on his 124th birth anniversary

The nation on Thursday paid tribute to the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, on his 124th birth anniversary.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and other dignitaries paid floral tributes at his memorial - Shanti Van in the national capital.

A series of functions are being organised across the country to mark the occasion.

The day is also observed as the 'Children's Day' in India as Pandit Nehru had great affection for children. They fondly called him 'Chacha' Nehru.

Celebrating Children's Day is about giving children the right to enjoy and grow into healthy and educated citizens of the country.

A pivotal figure in the Indian independence movement, Nehru was born on November 14, 1889 in Allahabad.

He was also a key figure in international politics in the post-war period, and was one of the founding figures of the non-aligned movement.

Nehru graduated from Cambridge University, and returned to India in 1912. Popularly referred to as Panditji, Nehru was also a writer, scholar and amateur historian. The son of the wealthy Indian barrister and politician Motilal Nehru, Nehru had become one of the youngest leaders of the Indian National Congress.

After independence, Nehru served as India"s first Prime Minister from August 1947 to May 1964.