| Great Leaders |
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| Biographies of Great Indians & Hindus |
MOTILAL NEHRU |
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Light Goes Out The Government was afraid that it would get a bad name if such a great leader were to die in jail. So it released Motilal. He came to Allahabad. He was able to spend just a few minutes with Jawahar and Kamala only. The Police arrested Jawaharlal and sent him to Naini JaiI. Motilal went to see his son in Naini. On seeing his father in such bad health, his body emaciated and weak and face swollen - Jawahar was alarmed. At about this time, the daughter Krishna, the daughter-in-law Kamala and the son-in-law Ranajit were all arrested and brought to the same jail. The entire family found itself in jail. Motilal felt very happy, on the one hand, to see all the members of his family join the army in the War of Independence. On the other hand, he was much worried about their suffering in the prison. Motilal's illness grew worse. The doctors felt that he might not live long. Government released Gandhiji, Jawaharlal's and all members of the Nehru family. Jawaharlal was released on 11 Th October, so that he could be by the side of his father who was seriously ill. But on October 18th he was arrested again and sent to jail. Motilal lay waiting in his bed expecting his son and daughter-in-law to return from a public meeting. The daughter in-law came home alone and broke the news of Jawahar’s arrest at the entrance to Anand Bhavan. Motilal was taken in a car to Lucknow for treatment. The strain of the journey made him more ill. But he did not lose courage. He was thinking only of his country. He was in his usual self-cracking jokes. He called his children to his bedside and blessed them. He clearly knew that his end was nearing. He called Mahatma Gandhi to his bedside and said, "I am not fortunate enough to see India free and to die at the lotus feet of a free Mother India. But I have no doubt you will have that good fortune. I have done my duty. I have rendered my bit of service to the country, I am happy about it." On the 6th of February 1931 Motilal breathed his last. He was then seventy. |
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