In this letter, Jawaharlal Nehru explains the importance of studying history not just as a series of battles and the lives of kings but as a way to understand how people lived, thought, and faced challenges. He emphasizes that learning from the past can help us in the present.Nehru then shifts to discussing the social classes that existed in ancient times. He explains how, as societies developed, people began doing different types of work, leading to a division of labor. 

This division gave rise to different classes, such as the ruling class, priests, merchants, artisans, and peasants. He highlights that the ruling and managing classes gained more power and wealth, often at the expense of the working classes. Overall, Nehru shows how understanding the roles and lives of these various classes can help us understand society better and reflect on whether humanity has progressed or not.

Letter 23 | Language, Writing, and Numerals (In English) | Letters From a Father to His Daughter

In this letter, Nehru explores the origins and evolution of language, writing, and numerals. He begins by explaining how language may have started with simple cries of fear or warning, similar to the way animals communicate. Early humans likely developed basic words and labour cries when working together. Gradually, language evolved from single words to more complex sentences.

Nehru also touches on how, during early civilizations, language had already advanced, with songs and ballads being popular forms of communication. Bards and singers recited tales of heroism, reflecting society's focus on battle and bravery.

He discusses the origin of writing, which likely began as pictures representing objects. Over time, these pictures became simpler, leading to the development of alphabets. The invention of numerals was equally transformative, especially for business. Nehru explains the transition from Roman numerals to the more efficient "Arabic numerals," which were actually developed by Indians.

Overall, Nehru highlights the creativity and progress of early humans in developing systems of communication and counting.

 

In this letter, Nehru discusses the importance of sea voyages and trade in ancient times, focusing on the Phoenicians, an ancient people from the Mediterranean coast. He describes how early boats, likely simple hollowed tree trunks with oars and sails, were used for adventurous and often dangerous sea travel. These voyages, though perilous, were driven largely by the desire for trade and wealth.

Nehru then explains the evolution of trade, which began with simple bartering between tribes, where goods were exchanged directly, such as cows for grain. Later, gold and silver were used as a medium of exchange, simplifying trade. This development eventually led to the use of coins, further easing trade and commerce. He emphasizes the complex nature of modern trade, with goods traveling vast distances across countries, and contrasts this with the inefficiencies of sending Indian cotton to England for manufacturing and then importing the finished cloth back to India. Nehru advocates for using locally made products, like khadi, to support domestic industries and reduce dependence on foreign goods. In the end, Nehru reflects on the role of money, explaining that it is merely a tool for exchanging goods, and highlights the folly of those who hoard wealth without understanding its purpose.

In this letter, Jawaharlal Nehru discusses the early civilizations of China and India. He explains that around the same time as the rise of civilizations in Mesopotamia and Egypt, advanced cultures were also developing in China and India. In China, Mongolian settlers thrived along river valleys, creating beautiful bronze vessels and constructing canals and buildings. They developed a unique form of picture-based writing, which remains in use today, unlike similar ancient scripts from Egypt and Babylon.

Nehru also mentions India's early civilization, predating the Aryan arrival, and highlights the Dravidians, who had a rich culture and traded goods like rice, spices, teak wood, and gold with Mesopotamia and Egypt. Trade, Nehru notes, is a hallmark of civilization.

Both China and India were originally composed of small city-states, many of which functioned as republics with elected governments rather than kings. In China, these states eventually unified into an empire, during which the Great Wall was built to protect against invasions. Nehru emphasizes the enormous scale of the Great Wall and its lasting presence as a symbol of Chinese strength and resilience.

In this letter, Nehru explains about ancient civilizations in Egypt and Crete, focusing on their culture, architecture, and beliefs.

He begins by describing the impressive structures in Egypt, such as the pyramids and the Sphinx. The pyramids were tombs for the Pharaohs, who were buried with treasures for their afterlife. Nehru mentions the discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb and the mummies, preserved bodies of the Pharaohs. He also highlights the advanced engineering skills of the Egyptians, who built canals and lakes for irrigation.

Then he writes about Crete, an island in the Mediterranean, and talks about its ancient civilization. He describes the palace at Knossos, which had advanced features like water pipes and beautiful artwork. He also mentions myths associated with Crete, such as the story of King Minos and the Minotaur, a creature that supposedly received human sacrifices. He uses these stories to explain how early religion and human sacrifices often stemmed from fear and ignorance.

In the end, Nehru expresses relief that such sacrifices are mostly a thing of the past, although animal sacrifices still occur in some places. He emphasizes that worshipping through such violence is a strange way to show devotion.

 In this letter Jawaharlal Nehru explains how ancient civilizations often developed along the banks of rivers, where water and fertile land were abundant. He mentions famous old cities like Babylon, Nineveh, and Asur in Mesopotamia, which no longer exist, having been buried under layers of sand and dust over thousands of years. Nehru describes how these cities became deserted, were covered by sand, and forgotten, only to have new cities built over them. He reflects on the cyclical nature of history, where cities rise, flourish, and eventually fall into ruin, with new cities taking their place. He contrasts this with the city of Damascus in Syria, which is still thriving and possibly the oldest city in the world. Nehru also mentions ancient Indian cities like Indraprastha, near Delhi, which no longer exists, and Kashi (Benares), which is still one of the oldest surviving cities. He notes that many great Indian cities, like those in China, were also built along rivers.

In this letter, Jawaharlal Nehru shifts focus from discussing patriarchs and kings to exploring early civilizations and the people who lived during those times. He mentions that, although we know more about these early civilizations than about the prehistoric Paleolithic and Neolithic man, our knowledge is still limited. However, the ruins of ancient buildings, temples, and palaces provide insights into the lives, customs, and cultures of those early people.

Nehru discusses the concept of ancient civilizations, including the speculative idea of Atlantis, a highly advanced society supposedly swallowed by the Atlantic Ocean. While there is no evidence to support this, he acknowledges the possibility of early civilizations in the Americas, referencing ancient ruins in Mexico (Yukatan) and Peru. He then turns to early civilizations in Eurasia, particularly Mesopotamia, Egypt, Crete, India, and China. Nehru emphasizes the importance of water in the establishment of these civilizations, noting that early settlers chose to live near rivers, which provided the necessary water for agriculture. Rivers like the Tigris, Euphrates, Nile, Ganges, and Jumna were crucial for food production, leading people to revere them as sacred and holy. Nehru underscores that the worship of rivers like the Nile and Ganges stemmed from their essential role in sustaining life, though people often forget the practical reasons behind such reverence.

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.

Letter 16 | The Patriarch - How He Developed (In English) | Letters From a Father to His Daughter

In this letter, Jawaharlal Nehru explains to his daughter the evolution of ownership and leadership within early human tribes. Initially, everything in the tribe was shared among all members, including the leader, or patriarch. The patriarch was primarily an organizer, with no special ownership of the tribe's goods. However, as the patriarch's power grew, he began to see the tribe's property as his own. Over time, leadership became hereditary, passed from one family member to another, and the idea of personal ownership emerged. This shift led to the division of society into rich and poor, as the patriarch's family began to claim more for themselves. Nehru concludes by indicating that he will continue discussing this topic in his next letter.

In this letter titled "The Patriarch—How He Began," Jawaharlal Nehru explains to his daughter, Indira, the origins of kings and leadership within early societies. He begins by acknowledging the complexity of life and how it contrasts with simpler times. Nehru explains that as tribes formed and agriculture emerged, there was a need for someone to organize work and lead the tribe, especially during battles. This leader was often the oldest and most experienced member, known as the patriarch.

Initially, the patriarch was similar to the other tribe members, sharing in the work and resources. However, as society became more complex, especially due to agriculture, the patriarch took on more organizational responsibilities, gradually distancing himself from manual labor. Over time, this led to a division of labor, with the patriarch and other organizers gaining power over ordinary workers. This marked the beginning of social hierarchies and the evolution of leadership, eventually leading to the concept of kingship. Nehru promises to delve deeper into the development of the patriarch in his next letter.

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 15 ख़ानदान का सरग़ना कैसे बना Lesson 15 The Patriarch - How He Began

Letter 14 | The Changes Brought About by Agriculture(English)| Letters From a Father to His Daughter

In this letter, Jawaharlal Nehru explains the concept of the division of labor and its evolution through history. He begins by describing how, in early human societies, there was little division of labor, with everyone focused on hunting. Over time, a basic division occurred between men, who hunted, and women, who stayed at home to care for children and animals.

With the advent of agriculture, more complex divisions of labor emerged as some people farmed while others continued to hunt. This shift to agriculture also led to the development of settled communities, as people needed to stay near their cultivated land. Agriculture made life easier by providing more food than hunting, allowing people to store surplus food.

Nehru then discusses the concept of surplus, explaining that in hunter-gatherer societies, people lived hand-to-mouth, with no surplus to store. However, with agriculture, people began to produce more food than they needed, leading to the accumulation of surplus resources. This surplus is the basis for wealth, as seen in modern banking systems, where people deposit surplus money.

Nehru also touches on the idea that in contemporary society, the distribution of surplus is often unfair, with some people gaining wealth without working, while others work hard but remain poor. He suggests that this imbalance is a cause of poverty in the world, though he notes that this may be difficult for Indira to fully understand at her young age.

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"