In 1951–52, India took a step no other newly independent country had dared to take - universal adult suffrage, without any conditions of caste, gender, education, or property.

Many journalists, politicians, and experts around the world called it a "dangerous experiment."

But Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, and the first Chief Election Commissioner, Sukumar Sen, had unwavering faith in the character and wisdom of the ordinary Indian.

This video tells how the world called India's first elections a "meaningless charade," and how India overcame all those criticisms and wrote the most successful democratic chapter in history.

This story of unwavering faith in democracy, even amidst poverty and illiteracy, continues to inspire. This faith became the foundation of the world's largest democracy.

Chapter 17: A Famous Conqueror but a Conceited Young Man

Nehru tells Indira about Alexander the Great, the young Macedonian conqueror who invaded Persia and reached India. Though brilliant in battle, Nehru sees him as vain, cruel, and driven by pride. In India, Alexander fought the brave King Porus, admired his courage, and turned back soon after. His invasion left little trace, but it brought India and Greece closer in contact. Alexander’s brief, stormy life ended at thirty-three, a conqueror who left behind only a legend, not a legacy.

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Chapter 18: Chandragupta Maurya and the Arthashastra

After Alexander’s death, Chandragupta Maurya, guided by the wise Chanakya, built the first great Indian empire from Afghanistan to Bengal, with Pataliputra as its capital. Chanakya’s Arthashastra described a well-organized and just government, where the king’s duty was to serve the people’s welfare. Nehru admires how advanced India was under the Mauryas with clean cities, trade, irrigation, and civic councils, a sign of strong and enlightened rule 2,200 years ago.

 

One of the strangest myths about Jawaharlal Nehru is the claim that he used to send his clothes all the way from India to a laundry in Paris! 

In this humorous and fact-filled video, we bust this long-running “Paris laundry” legend using Nehru’s own words from his Autobiography, where he calls the story ridiculous and says anyone who actually does this deserves an award for being a “prize fool.” 

This short, entertaining explainer mixes comedy with solid history, perfect for clearing up old rumors that still float around social media.

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From Marathon to Athens: The Glory That Was Greece | Ch. 15 & 16 | Nehru's Glimpses of World History

The Battle for Freedom and the Birth of Wisdom

Chapter 15: Persia and Greece Nehru narrates the legendary wars between Persia and Greece, from Marathon to Thermopylae, where a small nation’s love for freedom triumphed over empire. Through Herodotus’s tales, he celebrates courage, sacrifice, and the timeless spirit of those who fight for liberty. Chapter 16: The Glory That Was Hellas After defeating Persia, Greece entered its golden age, the era of Pericles, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Nehru reflects on how true greatness lies in thought, art, and wisdom, drawing parallels with India’s own ancient brilliance.