|
Jawaharlal Nehru (left)
was a confidant of independence leader Mahatma
Gandhi |
1964: Light goes out in India as Nehru
dies |
England have
Jawaharlal Nehru, founder of modern India and its current prime
minister, has died suddenly at the age of 74.
He was taken ill in the early hours of this morning at his house in New
Delhi. He had returned from holiday at a hill station near the capital the
previous evening, apparently in reasonable health.
It is believed he suffered a heart attack, and although specialists
fought to save him for much of the day, he passed away early this
afternoon with his daughter, Indira Gandhi, by his side.
News of his death was broken to the lower house of parliament, the Lok
Sabha, at 1400 local time (2030 GMT), by cabinet minister C Subramaniam.
In a broken voice, he told colleagues, "The prime minister is no more.
The light is out."
People's tribute
Politicians openly wept as party leaders paid tribute to the man who
has led India since independence from Britain 17 years ago.
The news spread quickly through the streets, and thousands of ordinary
Indians began to converge on Mr Nehru's mansion in New Delhi.
Within two hours of the announcement, tens of thousands of people had
gathered, and truckloads of police took up positions outside the grounds
to control the rapidly growing crowd.
Mr Nehru's body was moved from his first-floor bedroom down to a makeshift bier in front of the house.
Then began a long procession which lasted through the rest of the
evening and into the night, as nearly 250,000 men, women and children
filed past to pay their respects.
Battle for succession
The Home Minister, Gulzarilal Nanda, was sworn in as interim prime
minister at midnight, although it is being emphasised that the appointment
is temporary.
Pandit Nehru had not indicated who he would prefer to succeed him.
When the subject was raised just five days ago at a news conference, he
said that although he had given some thought to the suggestion that he
should retire, "my lifetime is not ending so very soon."
The man thought most likely to succeed him is Lal Bahadur Shastri, a
Minister without Portfolio in Mr Nehru's cabinet with a reputation for
moderation. He was a close political confidant of Mr Nehru.
Other possible candidates are Mr Nehru's daughter, Indira Gandhi, and
the former finance minister, Morarji Desai.