When Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru formed first cabinet in 15 August, 1947 it included 13 other ministers apart from Nehru. These included the nationalist stalwarts Vallabhbhai Patel and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, as well as four congressmen of the younger generation.
More notable perhaps were the names of those who were not from the Congress.
These included two representatives of the world of commerce and one representative of the Sikhs. Three others were lifelong adversaries of the Congress.
These were R. K. Shanmukham Chetty, businessman who was one of the best financial minds in India.
Ambedkar, a brilliant legal scholar and a Dalit by caste.
Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, a leading Bengal politician who belonged to the Hindu Mahasabha. All three had collaborated with rulers While the congressmen served time in British jails.
Mahatma Gandhi had urged Nehru to form a cabinet that included the ablest men regardless of the party.
The first cabinet of free India was ecumenical in ways other than politically. Its members came from as many as 5 religious denominations with a couple of atheists and from all parts of India. There was a woman, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, as well as 2 Dalits.
These included two representatives of the world of commerce and one representative of the Sikhs. Three others were lifelong adversaries of the Congress.
These were R. K. Shanmukham Chetty, businessman who was one of the best financial minds in India.
Ambedkar, a brilliant legal scholar and a Dalit by caste.
Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, a leading Bengal politician who belonged to the Hindu Mahasabha. All three had collaborated with rulers While the congressmen served time in British jails.
Mahatma Gandhi had urged Nehru to form a cabinet that included the ablest men regardless of the party.
The first cabinet of free India was ecumenical in ways other than politically. Its members came from as many as 5 religious denominations with a couple of atheists and from all parts of India. There was a woman, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, as well as 2 Dalits.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of India, seen with the Members of the Union Cabinet at Government House, New Delhi, on 31 January 1950, before the President drove in State to the Indian Parliament to deliver his first address.
(L to R sitting) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai, Sardar Baldev Singh, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Patel, Dr. John Mathai, Shri Jagjivan Ram, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Dr. S.P. Mukerjee.
(L to R standing) Khurshed Lal, R.R. Diwakar, Mohanlal Saxena, Gopalaswami Ayyangar, N.V. Gadgil, K.C. Neogi, Jairamdas Daulatram, K. Santhanam, Satya Narayan Sinha and Dr. B. V. Keskar.
Date photo taken : 31 January 1950
(L to R standing) Khurshed Lal, R.R. Diwakar, Mohanlal Saxena, Gopalaswami Ayyangar, N.V. Gadgil, K.C. Neogi, Jairamdas Daulatram, K. Santhanam, Satya Narayan Sinha and Dr. B. V. Keskar.
Date photo taken : 31 January 1950
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