Letters from a Father to His Daughter (पिता के पत्र पुत्री के नाम) is a timeless collection of letters written by Jawaharlal Nehru (जवाहरलाल नेहरू) to his daughter, Indira Priyadarshini (later Gandhi). It was first published in 1929, and over the years, numerous reprints and editions have kept this work alive for new generations.

Written as educational essays on natural and human history, the letters were composed while Nehru was imprisoned in Allahabad, with Indira residing in Mussoorie. These letters reflect a father’s deep desire to nurture his daughter’s understanding of the world beyond the confines of formal education.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword To First Edition 0:54

1. The Book Of Nature 2:25

2. How Early History Was Written 7:33

3. The Making Of The Earth 13:08

4. The First Living Things 17:39

5. The Animals Appear 24:27

6. The Coming Of Man 29:16

7. The Early Men 35:53

8. How Different Races Were Formed 43:40

9. The Races And Languages Of Mankind 49:13

10. The Relationships Of Languages 55:19

11. What Is Civilization? 59:45

12. The Formation Of Tribes 1:03:00

13. How Religion Began And Division Of Labour 1:07:04

14 The Changes Brought About By Agriculture 1:11:44

15. The Patriarch—How He Began 1:15:32

16. The Patriarch—How He Developed 1:19:03

17. The Patriarch Becomes The King 1:22:42

18. The Early Civilizations 1:25:12

19. The Great Cities Of The Ancient World 1:31:21

20. Egypt And Crete 1:35:06

21. China And India 1:39:32

22. Sea Voyages And Trade 1:43:26

23. Language, Writing And Numerals 1:49:15

24. Different Classes Of People 2:19:28

25. Kings And Temples And Priests 1:56:43

26. A Look Back 2:01:26

27. Pictures Of Fossil Fishes 2:03:58

28. Fossils And Ruins 2:05:34

29. The Aryans Come To India 2:08:17

30. What Were The Aryans In India Like? 2:11:51

31. The Ramayana And The Mahabharata 2:16:03

This is the last letter of this series. In this brief letter, Nehru sheds light on the significance of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, two monumental epics from India's Epic Age that followed the Vedic period. He describes the geographical and cultural context of the Aryan civilization, noting that "Aryavarta" or "Indu-land" was shaped like a crescent moon, which was considered sacred.

Nehru explains that the Ramayana, written by Valmiki in Sanskrit and later adapted by Tulsidas, narrates the adventures of Rama, Sita, and their battle against Ravana. He suggests that the epic may symbolically represent the conflicts between Aryans and southern peoples.

The Mahabharata, a later and larger epic, recounts a great conflict among Aryans themselves and is revered not only for its narrative but also for the Bhagavad Gita it contains. Nehru highlights the enduring influence and significance of these texts, noting that they continue to be integral to Indian culture and knowledge.

Letter 30 | What Were the Aryans in India Like? (In English)| Letters from a Father to his Daughter

In this letter, Nehru describes the Aryans who arrived in India thousands of years ago, likely in gradual waves, over hundreds of years. He imagines their migration as long caravans of people with all their possessions. These Aryans mostly came over the northwest mountains, and perhaps some by sea.

Nehru explores the Aryans' culture through their ancient texts, particularly the Vedas, which are among the oldest books in the world. Initially passed down orally, these texts reflect the wisdom of the rishis and munis of that time. The Aryans were knowledgeable, and their literature in Sanskrit is admired even today. The hymns of the Rig Veda, one of the oldest Vedas, reveal a joyful, adventurous people who worshipped their gods through songs.

The Aryans were proud of their race, loved freedom, and preferred death over dishonor or slavery. They were skilled in agriculture and science, valuing rivers and animals like cows and bulls for their contributions to farming and daily life. Over time, their reverence for the cow led to its worship, a practice that later lost its original significance.

Lastly, to preserve their identity, the Aryans made rules to prevent intermarriage with the native inhabitants. This gradually evolved into the caste system, which Nehru criticizes as absurd in its modern form but notes is diminishing in importance.

Letter 29 | Aryans Come to India (In English) | Letters from a Father to his Daughter

In this letter, Nehru describes the arrival of the Aryans in India and the resulting cultural changes. He explains that before the Aryans came, India had an ancient civilization, much like Egypt, and was inhabited by the Dravidians, whose descendants now live in South India.

The Aryans, a strong, nomadic people from Central Asia, migrated in large numbers due to a shortage of food. They spread to Persia, Greece, and eventually arrived in India, entering through the northwest near Kashmir. 

The Aryans gradually pushed the Dravidians south, with most of the Aryan settlement remaining in the northern regions like Afghanistan, Punjab, and later the Ganga and Jamuna plains, which they called "Aryavarta." 

Nehru also mentions ancient Sanskrit texts like the Vedas, Puranas, and epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata, which provide insights into the Aryans' way of life and how they expanded across India. The Aryans primarily settled near rivers, establishing cities like Kashi (Benares) and Prayagaraj.

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.