Letter 17 | The Patriarch Becomes a King (In English) | Letters From a Father to His Daughter

In this letter, Nehru explains how patriarchs evolved into kings. He describes patriarchs as the leaders or "fathers" of their tribes, with their authority often passed down from father to son, eventually leading to the emergence of kings. Over time, these kings began to believe they owned everything in their country and ruled with absolute power, forgetting their role as servants of the people. Nehru mentions the concept of the "divine right of kings," where rulers claimed that their authority came from God. He highlights historical revolutions in England, France, and Russia where people overthrew their kings due to their oppressive rule.

Nehru contrasts countries that have abolished kings and become republics, where leaders are elected by the people, with places like India, where Rajas and Maharajas still exist. These Indian rulers, he says, continue to live in luxury by taxing the people, much like the old kings, and neglect the needs of their subjects. Nehru stresses that these leaders misuse public funds for their own pleasure, leaving their people to suffer without basic necessities like schools and hospitals.