In this letter, Jawaharlal Nehru explains to his daughter how early humans developed religion and the concept of division of labor.

Nehru begins by describing how early humans lived in fear, attributing natural disasters and misfortunes to angry and vengeful gods. They imagined these gods in nature—mountains, rivers, and clouds. To appease them, people offered food and, in extreme fear, even sacrificed humans. This fear-driven mindset, according to Nehru, marked the beginning of religion, though it later evolved into something more complex. He reflects on how religion still causes conflict and fear in many societies. Nehru then shifts to describe early humans' daily struggles to find food. With the formation of tribes, life became a bit easier, as people could work together for mutual benefit. Cooperation made it possible to accomplish tasks, such as carrying heavy loads, that were impossible individually. The introduction of agriculture marked a significant advancement, making it easier for humans to obtain food. Nehru mentions that even some ants exhibit basic agricultural behavior. With agriculture, people no longer had to hunt constantly, leading to a less grueling lifestyle. This change led to the division of labor: while men used to focus solely on hunting, with agriculture, different tasks emerged, such as farming, tending to cattle, and other specialized roles. Nehru concludes by explaining that this division of labor, which began with the advent of agriculture, continues in modern society, with people specializing in different trades like carpentry, engineering, or medicine. This specialization allows people to excel in their specific fields, much like the early forms of labor division seen in ancient tribes.

Tags: Jawaharlal Nehru Indira Gandhi letters Pita ke Patr Putri ke Naam by Jawaharlal Nehru Letters from a Father to his Daughter Nehru ke patra Indira ko Nehru’s Letters to Indira पाठ 13 "मज़हब की शुरुआत और काम का बँटवारा" Lesson 13 "How Religion Began and Division of Labour"

Letter #12 | The Formation of Tribes (In English) | Letters From a Father to His Daughter

This letter describes the evolution of early human societies. Initially, early humans lived like animals, hunting alone. Over time, they began to form groups or tribes for safety and strength, much like animals that travel in herds. In these tribes, cooperation was essential, and each member had to prioritize the tribe's welfare. Leaders emerged, typically the strongest, to maintain order and ensure internal conflicts were minimized.

Early tribes were essentially large families and grew over time. Life before tribes was harsh, with humans lacking shelter and clothing, constantly fighting for survival, and struggling with natural elements they did not understand. Early humans also engaged in rituals to appease imagined gods, believing that sacrifices could influence natural events like rain and hail. From this letter: So also the first advance in civilization that early men made was to combine together in packs, or as these are called tribes. They began to work together. There was what is called cooperation. Each man had to think of the tribe first and then about himself. If the tribe was in danger every member of it had to fight for it and defend it. And if any person in the tribe did not work for the tribe he was kicked out."

Tags: Jawaharlal Nehru Indira Gandhi letters Pita ke Patra Putri ke Naam by Jawaharlal Nehru Letters from a Father to his Daughter Nehru ke patra Indira ko Nehru’s Letters to Indira पाठ 12 "जातिओं का बनना" Lesson 12 "The Formation of Tribes"