Letters 26,27,28 | A Look Back, Fossils and Ruins (In Eng.) | Letters From a Father to His Daughter

Saturday, December 21, 2024

Nehru pauses and reflects on what he has written so far-- the vast history of the Earth and human existence-- and he marvels at how life slowly evolved over millions of years. He reminds his daughter, Indira, of the enormity of time, explaining that human life is just a small blip in the long history of the planet. Nehru emphasizes how insignificant day-to-day worries seem when compared to the vastness of Earth's timeline.

He recounts the early history of the Earth, from its formation as part of the sun, to the emergence of life, and eventually the rise of humans. Nehru encourages Indira to think about how humans started as weak creatures but eventually grew to dominate the world. He ends by noting that while they’ve covered millions of years in their previous letters, the real growth of civilization happened in the last few thousand years, a period they will explore further.

Nehru advises his daughter to ponder what they've already discussed and suggests that this long view of history will help her put small problems into perspective. 



Letter 25 | Kings and Temples and Priests (In English) | Letters From a Father to His Daughter

Friday, December 13, 2024

In this letter, Jawaharlal Nehru explains the societal structure that emerged over time, focusing on the roles of peasants, kings, and priests. He highlights how peasants and laborers, though crucial for food production, were marginalized and received very little for their efforts, while kings and landlords, who held power, took a large share of their produce.

Nehru then explores the origins of religion, pointing out that early humans, out of fear and ignorance, created gods to explain the unknown. Temples were built for these gods, and people used images of animals or half-human creatures, often ugly and frightening, to represent them. This reflected their belief that gods were powerful and to be feared.

The priests, being more educated and literate than others, gained significant influence. They not only performed religious duties but also became advisers to kings, doctors, and the keepers of knowledge. People considered them magicians because of their tricks and knowledge, and they relied on them in times of trouble. Though the priests often misled the people, they also helped them progress.
Nehru concludes by noting that, in some societies, priests initially governed before kings took over, as kings were better fighters. In some places, like Egypt, kings (Pharaohs) were considered both rulers and gods.