Thread by @Jinesh_Choraria

🧵THREAD ON NEHRU'S PRISON LIFE.

It took me quite some time to find all these sources so please read the full thread. Also compare this to the prison life of Veer Savarkar and show this to those who mock him.

(Sources will be mentioned in alt text along with the images)
(1/n)

Nehru went to jail first time in December 1921. He was given 6 months imprisonment. He was treated better than other prisoners although he refused those privileges(time of refusing is important). He was released after 3 months due to some technical defect in his sentence.
(2/n)

The facilities given to him were: huge barracks, frequent interviews, books, newspapers, and playing volleyball. About the time when he was to be released the facilities were refused so he enjoyed them for most of his jail period. He was released in March 1922.
(3/n)

He was arrested again after 6-7 weeks and was back in the same prison. The punishment mentioned 18 months of 'rigorous imprisonment' but Nehru described his life as 'laze-eat-sleep' and tension free and nothing about this seems 'rigorous'. He continued his homeopathy.
(4/n)

Apart from his diet of curd, bread, butter, milk, fruit, rice, chapati, dal and vegetables which he described as 'simple', he was allowed to get food from outside. He used to exercise daily and 2 newspapers, journals were allowed to him. Many books were also allowed.
(5/n)

He was kept with his friends but privacy was an issue as many of them were kept together. Later seven of them were separated from the others. There were a total 102 'special class' prisoners. He was out in January 1923 again before his sentence was completed due to AMNESTY.
(6/n)

Then next is his prison at Nabha. Now I will not say that Motilal Nehru apologized to the viceroy to get Jawaharlal Nehru out. I will just keep some facts and leave it for you to decide what might have happened. So, the Nabha prison conditions were really bad but then...
(7/n)

According to his fellow prisoner K. Santanam, just after intervention by Motilal Nehru the Nabha authorities changed their attitude and proper arrangement for bath and clothing was made. Friends could send them food from outside. They were kept in this jail for a fortnight.
(8/n)

Originally the sentence was for 2 years but 'something' happened and just after a few hours their sentence was suspended and they were ordered to leave Nabha. Next year when Gidwani went to Nabha and was arrested, Nehru felt guilty but his father didn't let him go to Nabha.
(9/n)

Next he was arrested during the civil disobedience movement for 6 months. He was an 'A' class prisoner. A fellow prisoner used to cook for him. He had servants to operate the 'punkha' for him. He used to get 2 weeklies and food from home. He refused these facilities later.
(10/n)

His isolation was never complete. His punkha coolie used to give mangoes to him. Even Nehru felt that he had got a very easy life in prison so he had to make it hard. He could do manual labour of his own choice so he chose spinning. He had books but only 6 at a time.
(11/n)

He was released but arrested again after 8 days and kept with Narmada Prasad, Syed Mahmud & Ranjit Pandit. He had many books to read. Ranjit Pandit even made a mini golf course in the jail. He knew gardening so he also filled his closure with flowers. Their life was quite.
(12/n)

Although it was a 'rigorous imprisonment' but Nehru even gave up spinning which he used to do earlier due to shoulder pain and only did reading. His sentence was for 2 years and 5 months but he was released in only 100 days as his father's health was deteriorating.
(13/n)

He was again arrested in December and sent to Naini Jail. This time the conditions were strict. Although he had a few old companions and used to do only spinning and reading but still he didn't have much facilities. Nehru also fell ill here. He was transferred to Bareilly.
(14/n)

Nothing much changed in Bareilly jail too. 2 doctors were allowed to attend him as he was ill. He could not exercise so he had to be content with sunbath. He was then transferred to Dehradoon. Before leaving the English police superintendent gave him some German magazines.
(15/n)

Describing this, Nehru writes, he has been fortunate as he receives the same courtesy from his countrymen as well as the English as they consider him civilized due to English education. This preferential treatment often embarrassed him. Dehradun jail had better conditions.
(16/n)

The climate was good in Dehradun. An Irishman, Captain Falvey did whatever he could to elevate his condition. He was allowed to walk outside the prison gates. He again felt ashamed of his better treatment and told the government to discontinue. He used to exercise daily.
(17/n)

After his companions left he was the closest to a solitary confinement. To make him feel better he was allowed to get fresh flowers and photographs. He used to spin a little for relief but his main job was reading and writing. He didn't complain as he had ample books.
(18/n)

Nehru made friends with a dog here although dogs are not allowed in jails. He also nursed one of its puppies. He was released from here in August 1933. Next he was arrested in February 1934 and sent to Alipore prison that also didn't have that many facilities.
(19/n)

In Alipore jail Nehru was given a small cell and a clerk was his companion. He had books to read. His cell was facing 2 chimneys from which smoke came to him. The food here was better and he was allowed to exercise outside his yard. He was transferred to Dehradun again.
(20/n)

Dehradun had better conditions than Alipore. The cell was bigger and he could exercise. He was allowed daily newspapers. He started writing his autobiography here. He was temporarily released from here to meet his ailing wife. He was put in Naini Jail 11 days later.
(21/n)

He spent his days mostly worried about his wife's health. He used to get a bulletin of her health in the jail and then eventually even allowed to meet her. It was decided that is wife would be sent to Bhowali so Nehru was also transferred to Almora jail which was near her.
(22/n)

In Almora Nehru was given a huge cell which he described as 'Solitary Grandeur'. It had 15 windows so no lack of fresh air. He used to sit outside warming himself in the sun and watching the wonderful landscapes. He was allowed to visit his wife and get newspapers.
(23/n)

His wife was moved to Europe for better treatment. Nehru was left alone and started writing articles but was always worried about his wife. His sentence was suspended as his wife's condition was critical and he took the first flight to Europe, where she was being treated.
(24/n)

He was arrested for the 8th time in October 1940 and sent to Gorakhpur jail. He was given 4 years of rigorous imprisonment. This sentence even shocked Churchill who requested 'special considerate treatment' for Nehru. Within a week he was transferred to Dehradun again.
(25/n)

Apart from a few incidents he was generally treated well. He could get fruits from outside, get a weekly newspaper and 6 books at a time. One interview and letter was allowed every fortnight. Again ashamed of his privileges he asked the authorities to treat him normally.
(26/n)

His main work in prison was reading, writing and spinning. He started to do gardening too. He was joined by his old companion Ranjit Pandit and together they grew dahlias and sunflowers in the cell. He was released in only 400 days despite his sentence being 4 years.
(27/n)

His last term of imprisonment was during the quit India movement. This was his longest term and was about 1/3rd of his total time in prison. He along with the whole CWC was placed in the Ahmednagar prison. This was one of the most luxurious time he spent in prison.
(28/n)

Their routine was waking up then morning walks, then tea and breakfast, then there was lunch. In the afternoons they used to spin, read and take notes or do gardening, in evenings there was badminton then dinner followed by discussion on various topics. They had newspaper.
(29/n)

For gardening the superintendent arranged seeds from Poona specially for them. All of them had different duties for the garden. At the end the harvested seeds were packed and gifted to each of the members. Nehru writes he used to spend hours gardening like other jails.
(30/n)

They had games like badminton, volleyball and cards. This is confirmed by CWC leaders like P. Sitaramayyah, Asaf Ali, H. Mahtab. They also formed a club with comfortable canvas chairs and sofas to enjoy their game to the fullest. The garden was also growing beautifully.
(31/n)

They also had music for entertainment. Harekrushna Mahtab used to play flute in the jail. They had a gramophone to listen to music. A radio was also available. They also collected feathers to make a pillow with everyone contributing. They collected stones as a pastime.
(32/n)

They demanded the staff to bring food and tea in expensive crockery of their choice and the jail staff apologized to them and complied to their request. They had a personal cook too. According to Asaf Ali Nehru also got his favourite colour of curtains, blue.
(33/n)

Sitaramayyah described the jail life as given in the first image. H. Mahtab also regarded it as the best phase of his life. Nehru also enjoyed his jail life. His Birthday was also celebrated in jail with flower garlands, bouquets and a cigarette holder being his gifts.
(34/n)

They also celebrated their first anniversary in the jail by cutting a cake with '1' written on it. He also wrote 'Discovery of India' here Nehru was transferred to Bareilly for a short period and then Almora for a week. He was released after that, completing his jail life.
(35/n)