Jawaharlal Nehru Death Anniversary: Jairam Ramesh Shares First PM's Last Moments As He Died On A Buddha Purnima Day

Former and first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru passed away at the age of 74 on May 27, 1964 in New Delhi after suffering a heart attack.

Former and first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru passed away at the age of 74 on May 27, 1964. ( Image Source :Getty )

On May 27, 1964, India mourned the death of its first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who passed away at the age of 74 in New Delhi. As today marks his 60th death anniversary, Congress, the party he led and under the name of which he governed the nation for 17 years (1947-64), winning three parliamentary elections, remembers its chief, who continued to hold India's hand after freedom from Bitishers.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, while remebering the freedom fighter and former PM of India, shared an emotional post on X, detailing what the moments before the last day of Jawaharlal Nehru were like. He also recalled that Nehru had passed away on a Buddha Purnima day.

Today is the 60th death anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru.

On May 22, 1964 Nehru conducted his usual almost-monthly freewheeling press interaction. Towards the end of that meet he was asked about succession and he jokingly replied: "my life is not ending very soon".

Nehru then… pic.twitter.com/uHk9VjhSoV

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 27, 2024

A few days before his death, Nehru conducted his usual freewheeling press interaction on May 22, 1964. This interaction was held almost every month.

Towards the end of that meet Jawaharlal Nehru was asked about succession. to which he jokingly replied: "my life is not ending very soon". 

"Nehru then spent a few days in Dehra Dun from where we have his very last photo alive. He returned to New Delhi on May 26th. Perhaps the last act of his that night was to write a letter to Seiiche Hirose in Japan," Jairam Ramesh wrote on X.

A few hours later, in the early morning of May 27 at 6:25 AM, Nehru lost consciousness, and was declared dead at 2 PM. 

Underlining how Nehru, all through his "extraordinary history-shaping life", was profoundly influenced by Buddha's life and message, Jairam Ramesh recalled how it was quite amazing that his very last day on earth was on Buddha Purnima day. He further wrote that coincidentally, the last letter he wrote was also addressed to a "devout Buddhist".

"His study and bedroom are a testimony to that long-standing fascination. Quite amazingly his very last day on earth would be on Buddha Purnima Day and his very last letter would be to a devout Buddhist," Jairam Ramesh said.

Explaining how the chakra and Sarnath liom capital made it to the national flag and national emblem respectively, Jairam Ramesh said: "Nehru's reading of history and his desire to connect antiquity to the new republic of India that was being established led him to champion the use of two legacies of Buddha's greatest propagator Emperor Ashoka - the chakra in the national flag, and the Sarnath lion capital as the national emblem."

Mallikarjun Kharge Pays Tribute To 'The Jewel Of India'

Congress's President Mallikarjun Kharge also paid tribute to the former Prime Minister on his 60th death anniversary.

Remembering him, Kharge wrote on X how the "history of India is incomplete without the incomparable contribution of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of modern India, the one who took India forward in scientific, economic, industrial and various other fields, the dedicated guardian of democracy and our source of inspiration."

Calling him as the "Jewel of India", Kharge remembered one of Nehru's saying: "Defence of the country, progress of the country, unity of the country is our national duty. We may follow different religions, live in different states, speak different languages, but that should not create a wall between us…all people should get equal opportunity for progress. We do not want that some people in our country should be very rich and most of the people are poor."

"Even today the Congress Party is following the same path of “justice”, Kharge added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Pays Homage

Paying homage to the former Prime Minister of India, PM Modi wrote on his X account: "I pay homage to former PM Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Ji on his death annniversary."

I pay homage to former PM Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Ji on his death anniversary.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 27, 2024

Congress Prez Kharge & Sonia Gandhi Pay Floral Tribute

On the occasion of the death anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge along with senior party leader Sonia Gandhi, arrived at Shanti Van in New Delhi today. There, they paid floral tribute to the former Prime Minister of India, who had passed away on May 27, 1964.

VIDEO | Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Sonia Gandhi pay floral tribute to former PM Jawaharlal Nehru on his death anniversary at Shanti Van in New Delhi today morning. pic.twitter.com/zhKtaHF9p4

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 27, 2024