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Central Prison, Naini
October 26, 1930
On your birthday you have been in the habit of receiving presents and good wishes. Good wishes you will still have in full measure, but what present can I send you from Naini Prison? My presents cannot be very material or solid. They can be of the mind and spirit. Things that even the high walls of prison cannot stop.
October 26, 1930
My dear Indira,
On your birthday you have been in the habit of receiving presents and good wishes. Good wishes you will still have in full measure, but what present can I send you from Naini Prison? My presents cannot be very material or solid. They can be of the mind and spirit. Things that even the high walls of prison cannot stop.
You know sweetheart, how I dislike sermonising and doling out good advice. I have always thought that the best way to find out what is right and what is not right, what should be done and what should not be done, is not by giving a sermon, but by talking and discussing, and out of discussion sometimes a little bit of truth comes out. I have liked my talks with you and we have discussed many things, but the world is wide and beyond our world lie other wonderful and mysterious worlds. None of us need ever be bored or imagine that we have learned everything worth learning and become very wise.
Explanation:
The lesson "A Birthday Letter" was written by Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru started writing letters to his young daughter, Indira, in the summer of 1928. He wrote a birthday letter to his daughter from Naini's Central Prison on October 26, 1930. The letter contained his understanding of the world which he wished to pass on to his daughter. Even in prison, he wanted to ensure that his child was not devoid of her father's teachings.
The lesson opens with Jawaharlal Nehru addressing his daughter as "My dear Indira". In the letter, he said that Indira was in the habit of receiving gifts and blessings on her birthdays. She would be showered with blessings and greetings in equal measure. He asked what present he could send from the Naini Prison. He claimed that his gifts were mental or spiritual rather than materialistic. Even the high walls of the prison couldn't stop the blessings he sent for his daughter.
The lesson opens with Jawaharlal Nehru addressing his daughter as "My dear Indira". In the letter, he said that Indira was in the habit of receiving gifts and blessings on her birthdays. She would be showered with blessings and greetings in equal measure. He asked what present he could send from the Naini Prison. He claimed that his gifts were mental or spiritual rather than materialistic. Even the high walls of the prison couldn't stop the blessings he sent for his daughter.
Nehru's letter to his daughter
Nehru went on to say that he disliked giving advice and lecturing to others. He claimed that his daughter knew about it very well. He always believed that providing counsel or preaching was not the best way to figure out what was right and wrong, what should be done and what should not be done. According to him, things can be solved if people talk and discuss them. He also stated that sometimes, during a talk or discussion, a piece of truth emerges out.
Nehru mentioned in his letter that his conversations with Indira were delightful. They have discussed various topics like languages, trade, history, geography, science, epics and evolution. However, he stated that the universe is vast, and beyond the world lie other beautiful and strange worlds. He said they should not be bored or believe that they have learned everything and become intelligent by grasping everything. There were yet more to learn in the huge world.
Nehru went on to say that he disliked giving advice and lecturing to others. He claimed that his daughter knew about it very well. He always believed that providing counsel or preaching was not the best way to figure out what was right and wrong, what should be done and what should not be done. According to him, things can be solved if people talk and discuss them. He also stated that sometimes, during a talk or discussion, a piece of truth emerges out.
Nehru mentioned in his letter that his conversations with Indira were delightful. They have discussed various topics like languages, trade, history, geography, science, epics and evolution. However, he stated that the universe is vast, and beyond the world lie other beautiful and strange worlds. He said they should not be bored or believe that they have learned everything and become intelligent by grasping everything. There were yet more to learn in the huge world.
Meanings of the difficult words:
S.No | Words | Meanings |
1 | Prison | A building where criminals are forced to live as a punishment |
2 | Mysterious | Difficult or impossible to understand, explain, or identify |
3 | Imagine | To form or have a mental picture or idea of something |
4 | Discussion | The action or process of talking about something to reach a decision or to exchange ideas |
5 | Sermon | A long talk in which someone advises other people how they should behave to be better people |
6 | Advice | An opinion that someone offers you about what you should do or how you should act in a particular situation |
7 | Present | A materialistic object that can be given as a gift on a special occasion like a birthday or marriage |
Reference:
State Council of Educational Research and Training (2019). Term-2 English Standard-9. A Birthday Letter -Jawaharlal Nehru(pp. 101-119). Published by the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation.
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