->Rodw at 11:34, 19 December 2021

2021-12-19T11:34:51Z

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{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[Sir]]
| honorific-suffix = [[Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|MBE]]
| name = Braj Kumar Nehru
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = hi
| image = Braj_Kumar_Nehru.gif
| caption = Nehru with US President [[John F. Kennedy]] at the [[White House]], 1961
| office = [[Indian Ambassador to the United States]]
| term_start = 1961
| term_end = 1968
| predecessor = [[M.C. Chagla]]
| successor = [[Ali Yavar Jung]]
| office2 = [[India House, London|Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom]]
| term_start2 = 1973
| term_end2 = 1977
| predecessor2 = [[Apa Pant]]
| successor2 = [[Narayan Ganesh Gore]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1909|9|04}}
| birth_place = [[Allahabad]], [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2001|10|31|1909|9|04}}
| death_place = [[Kasauli]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], India
| party =
| spouse = {{marriage|Shobha ("Fori") Nehru (née Magdolna Friedman)|1935}}<ref name=oldest_resident/>
| children = Ashok Nehru, Aditya Nehru, and Anil Nehru
| alma_mater = [[Allahabad University]]
[[Oxford University]]
[[London School of Economics]]
| signature =
| office3 = [[Governor of Jammu and Kashmir]]
| predecessor3 = [[Lakshmi Kant Jha]]
| successor3 = [[Jagmohan]]
| term3 = 22 Feb 1981-26 Apr 1984
}}

[[Sir]] '''Braj Kumar Nehru''' [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]], [[Indian Civil Service|ICS]] (4 September 1909 – 31 October 2001) was an Indian diplomat and [[Ambassador of India to United States of America|Ambassador of India to the United States]] (1961–1968).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-494327.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512030813/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-494327.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 May 2014 |title=Braj Kumar Nehru, India's Ambassador to US & UK |publisher= highbeam.com |date=13 November 2001 |access-date=17 July 2012}}</ref> He was the son of [[Brijlal Nehru]] and [[Rameshwari Nehru]] and first cousin once removed of [[Prime Minister of India|India's first prime minister]] [[Jawaharlal Nehru]].

== Personal life ==
Nehru was born in Allahabad, [[Uttar Pradesh]], India and was son of [[Brijlal Nehru]] and [[Rameshwari Nehru]]<ref name=rajbhavan>{{cite web|url=http://www.rajbhavan.gujarat.gov.in/uniquepage.asp?id_pk=66 |title=Governors of Gujarat: details of the life sketch of B.K. Nehru |publisher=Rajbhavan (Govt of India) |access-date=16 July 2012}}</ref> He was educated at the [[Allahabad University]] (India), the [[London School of Economics]] and at [[Oxford University]].<ref name=scots>{{cite news|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/braj-kumar-nehru-1-591934 |title=Braj Kumar Nehru |publisher=Scotsman.com |date=2 January 2002 |access-date=17 July 2012}}</ref> He was awarded the [[Doctor of Letters|Doctor of Literature]] degree by the [[University of Punjab]], for his distinguished services in various fields.<ref name=tribune1>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011101/main2.htm |title=B.K. Nehru Dead |publisher=tribune.com |last=chandigarh |date=31 October 2001|access-date=17 July 2012}}</ref> His grandfather, Pandit Nandlal Nehru, was the elder brother of Pandit [[Motilal Nehru]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kecss.org/prominent+kashmiris+people+mldhar.html |title=Community: Prominent Kashmiri's |publisher=KECSS (Regd) |access-date=17 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613190919/http://www.kecss.org/prominent+kashmiris+people+mldhar.html |archive-date=13 June 2012}}</ref> He was the cousin to the erstwhile Prime Minister of India, [[Indira Gandhi]] (née Nehru).<ref name=nyt /> In 1935, Nehru married Magdolna Friedman (5 December 1908, [[Budapest]], [[Austria-Hungary]] - 25 April 2017, [[Kasauli]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], India), a fellow student in the UK who was of an [[Austrian Jewish]] background.<ref name=oldest_resident>{{cite news|url= http://indianexpress.com/article/india/kasauli-loses-its-oldest-resident-jawaharlal-nehru-cousins-wife-4629747/|title=Kasauli loses its oldest resident, Jawaharlal Nehru cousin's wife|work=The Indian Express|first=Ashwani |last=Sharma |date=27 April 2017 |access-date=27 April 2017}}</ref> The ill-treatment of the Jewish community in Europe prompted her father to change her name to Magdolna Forbath. Her nickname was Fori. After marriage, she changed her name to Shobha Nehru.<ref name=fori>{{cite news|url=http://themoderatevoice.com/96735/indias-fori-nehru-worlds-oldest-jewish-woman-alive/ |title=India's Fori Nehru, the oldest jewish woman alive |publisher=themoderatevoice.com |first=swaraaj |last=chauhan |date=1 January 2011 |access-date=17 July 2012}}</ref> He had three sons named Ashok Nehru, Aditya Nehru and Anil Nehru.

== Career ==

=== National ===
[[File:Braj Kumar Nehru with US president John F Kennedy.jpg|thumb|right|Ambassador Braj Nehru stands behind US president [[John F. Kennedy]] during Kennedy's speech welcoming Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to the United States (1961)]]

He joined the [[Indian Civil Service]] in 1934 and rose to be governor of seven different states of India. From 1934 to 1937 he held various government positions in the [[Punjab Province (British India)|province of Punjab]].<ref name=rajbhavan /> Nehru became the secretary of economic affairs in 1957.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2001-10-31/india/27242981_1_nehru-gandhi-family-indira-gandhi-brij-kumar-nehru |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928094459/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2001-10-31/india/27242981_1_nehru-gandhi-family-indira-gandhi-brij-kumar-nehru |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 September 2013 |title=B K Nehru dead |date=1 October 2001 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=16 July 2012}}</ref> He was appointed as Commissioner General for Economic Affairs (external financial relations)of India in 1958.<ref name=rajbhavan /> He was Governor of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] (1981–84), [[Assam]] (1968–73),<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome to Rajbhavan, Jammu & Kashmir |url=http://jkrajbhawan.nic.in/His%20Excellency/present3.htm |publisher=jkrajbhavan.nic.in |first=Government of India |last=Jammu & Kashmir state Govt |access-date=5 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427231026/http://jkrajbhawan.nic.in/His%20Excellency/present3.htm |archive-date=27 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Governors of Gujarat|Gujarat]] (1984–86), [[Governors of Nagaland|Nagaland]] (1968–73), [[Governors of Meghalaya|Meghalaya]] (1970–73), [[Governors of Manipur|Manipur]] (1972–73) and [[Governors of Tripura|Tripura]] (1972–73). He was transferred overnight as the Governor of Jammu & Kashmir to Gujarat after he refused to help Indira Gandhi in destabilising the Farooq Abdullah government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/may/03nehru.htm|title=Rediff on the NeT: B K Nehru reveals why Indira Gandhi got rid of Farooq Abdullah and began the valley's slide into anarchy and chaos}}</ref>

=== International ===

Nehru worked as executive director in the [[World Bank]] (1949) and was Economic Minister at the [[Embassy of India, Washington, D.C.|Indian Embassy in Washington]] (1954).<ref name=rajbhavan /> He helped to create the ''Aid India Club'' in 1958, which was a consortium of donor nations that committed to donate $2 million for the development of India.<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/09/business/b-k-nehru-92-indian-envoy-and-cousin-of-prime-minister.html |title=B.K.Nehru, 92, Indian envoy & cousin of Indian Prime minister |publisher= New York Times (nytimes.com) |first=Paul |last=Lewis |date=9 November 2001 |access-date=16 July 2012}}</ref> He also served as a diplomat, as ambassador to several countries and was offered the post of secretary-general of the United Nations in 1951, but declined. Nehru was also the [[High Commissioner to the United Kingdom|Indian High Commissioner in London]] from 1973 to 1977.<ref name=nyt /> Braj was chairman of the United Nations Investment committee for 14 years.<ref name=scots /> He represented India in the 'Sterlings balances' negotiations with Britain at the post-Second World War reparations conference.<ref name=scots2>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/braj-kumar-nehru-1-591934 |title=Braj Kumar Nehru |publisher=scotsman.com |date=5 January 2002 |access-date=17 July 2012}}</ref>

=== Writer ===

Nehru wrote an autobiography titled ''Nice Guys Finish Second''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Living A Full Life|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?203247|access-date=6 March 2013|newspaper=Outlook|date=26 March 1997}}</ref> Mr. Ramesh Kumar Saxena, who worked for him for 35 years, helped writing his biography.

== Awards ==
He was appointed an [[Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|MBE]] in the [[1945 New Year Honours]].<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36866/supplements/31 London Gazette, 1 January 1945]</ref> He was awarded the [[Padma Vibhushan]] in 1999.<ref>{{cite news|title=14 get Padma Vibhushan; B.K. Nehru, Chidambaram, Lata in list|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99jan26/head1.htm|access-date=6 March 2013|newspaper=The Tribune|date=26 January 1999}}</ref>

The speech "Civil Service in Transition" delivered at the [[India International Center]] in New Delhi on 15 October 1999 describes the need and the role played by a strong civil service. It also details out the causes for the prevalent corruption in India's political system and civil services.

== Death ==
Nehru died in [[Kasauli]], Himachal Pradesh, India on 31 October 2001 at the age of 92. His body was cremated in Delhi & the memorial service was held amongst the chanting of ''mantras'' from the holy scriptures.<ref name=tribune2>{{cite news |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011105/nation.htm#2 |title=Memorial service for B.K. Nehru held |newspaper=The Tribune|date=4 November 2001 |access-date=17 July 2012}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{commons category|Braj Kumar Nehru}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box|title=[[Indian Ambassador to the United States]]|before=[[M.C. Chagla]]|after=[[Ali Yavar Jung]]|years=1961–1968}}
{{s-end}}
{{Governors of Tripura}}
{{Governor of Gujarat}}
{{Governors of Meghalaya}}
{{Governors of Jammu and Kashmir}}
{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nehru, Braj}}
[[Category:1909 births]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:Kashmiri people]]
[[Category:Indian diplomats]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in civil service]]
[[Category:Nehru–Gandhi family]]
[[Category:Governors of Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Governors of Assam]]
[[Category:Governors of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Governors of Manipur]]
[[Category:Governors of Meghalaya]]
[[Category:Governors of Nagaland]]
[[Category:Governors of Tripura]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of India to the United States]]
[[Category:Indian Civil Service (British India) officers]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:High Commissioners of India to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:People from Allahabad]]
[[Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics]]

Braj Kumar Nehru - Revision history

->Rodw at 11:34, 19 December 2021