Letter to BS: Nehru was a darling of the Indian masses for over two decades

Nehru was chosen over other outstanding leaders by Gandhi because he was a pan-India personality without any regional leaning and a person with international reputation

This refers to the editorial “A weapon called Nehru” (February 8). The article comments on a view that Ja­wa­harlal Nehru never deserved to be given the charge of India in 1947 and that he denied Sardar Patel the position of the first prime minister by ma­ni­pu­lating Gandhi and Lord Mountbatten.

Those holding this view don’t appear to know that Gandhi, apart from being a Mahatma, was known to be one of the shrewdest politicians India ever had. More than one British vi­ceroys of India, with whom he carried negotiations, held this view of him. To say that he could be manipulated