H. N. Kunzru Explained

H.N. Kunzru
Birth Date:1 October 1887
Birth Place:Allahabad
Death Place:Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Nationality:• (1887-1947)
India (1947-1978)
Honorific Prefix:Pandit
Party:Independent
Otherparty:National Liberal Federation
Spouse:Senapati Kunzru
Alma Mater:Agra College, London School of Economics
Occupation:Freedom fighter, parliamentarian
Awards:Bharat Ratna (1968) refused to accept
Order:Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
Term Start:1952
Term End:1964
Primeminister:Jawaharlal Nehru
Office2:President of Indian Council of World Affairs
Term Start2:1948
Term End2:1975
Predecessor2:Tej Bahadur Sapru
Successor2:Sardar Swaran Singh
Office3:President of Indian School of International Studies
Term Start3:1955
Term End3:1970
Office4:1st Chief National Commissioner of Bharat Scouts and Guides
Term Start4:1952
Term End4:1957
Predecessor4:Position Established
Successor4:Justice Vivian Bose

Hridya Nath Kunzru (1 October 1887 – 3 April 1978) was an Indian freedom fighter and a public figure. He was a long-time Parliamentarian, serving in various legislative bodies at the Provincial and Central level for nearly four decades. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly of India (1946–50) that drew up the Constitution of India.[1] He was also keenly interested in international affairs and co-founded the Indian Council of World Affairs and the Indian School of International Studies.

Early life and education

Kunzru was the second son of Kashmiri Pandit Ayodhya Nath Kunzru and his second wife Jankeshwari. He was born at Allahabad on 1 October 1887. Even though he got married in 1908, his wife died in 1911 during childbirth, followed by the death of the child six months later. This was a turning point in his life and he resolved to dedicate his life to public service.[2] He did his matriculation in 1903 and F.A. in 1905 from Agra College. He passed his B.A. examination in 1907 from Allahabad University. Subsequently, he left for the London School of Economics in 1910 where he completed a B.Sc in Political Science.

Political philosophy

Pandit Kunzru started his political career in the Congress, but left and formed the National Liberal Federation along with other moderates such as Tej Bahadur Sapru and Madan Mohan Malaviya. He became its President in 1934. The National Liberal Federation was a loose conglomeration of high-minded individuals and Kunzru remained true to that tradition, standing for his first election, and every election after, as an Independent candidate. His vigorous support of non-governmental organisations, was also linked to the liberal philosophy that government should not be all powerful in a democracy. Many of his interventions in the Constituent Assembly Debates were also to reduce the power of government over the people.[3]

Career highlights

As a parliamentarian

He became a member of the Legislative Council of the United Provinces (1921–26),and subsequently in the Central Legislative Assembly (1926–30), the Council of States (1936), the Provisional Parliament (1950–52) and the Rajya Sabha (1952–64).

Kunzru headed two expert committees set up to look into the Railways, the first established in 1944 to amalgamate the various railway companies the existing into the Indian Railways. He also chaired the Railway Accidents Committee set up in 1962. He was Chairman of the Committee established in 1946 that recommended the establishment of a cadet corps which ultimately took shape as the National Cadet Corps in 1948. He headed another Committee that recommended the establishment of the National Defence Academy. He was a member of the States Reorganisation Commission from 1953 to 1955. He was widely traveled and was part of Parliamentary and other delegations to many countries, including South Africa, the United States, Japan, and Pakistan. He also chaired the Pacific Conferences of 1950, 1954, and 1958 organised by the Institute of Pacific Relations.[4]

As an educationist

Kunzru was instrumental in promoting the study of International relations in India. He helped set up the Indian Council of World Affairs and the Indian School of International Studies, using his influence and contacts to raise funds amounting to Rs. 600,000 to build Sapru House, the headquarters of the Indian Council of World Affairs.[5] At various times, he was a member of the Senate and Executive Council of the Banaras Hindu University, the University of Delhi, Allahabad University, and the Sri Ram Institute, Delhi. In recognition of his work, he was conferred honorary degrees by many of these universities. He was a member of the University Grants Commission for 12 years from 1953 to 1966 and served as its Chairman for a brief period in 1966.[6]

Other accomplishments

He was one of the founders of Indian Scouting, and served as the first National Commissioner of the Bharat Scouts and Guides. He joined the Servants of India Society, founded by Gopal Krishna Gokhale in 1909 and became its life President in 1936. He was also the first President of the Children's Film Society.[7]

He was part of the preparatory Committee that established the India International Centre and one of its five original Life Trustees.[8] He was also a part of the State Reorganisation Commission.

Honours and awards

Personal life

The novelist Hari Kunzru is Pandit Kunzru's great grand nephew.[13]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Rajan. M.S. Pandit Hriday Nath Kunzru, A Memoir. 10.1177/097492847803400401. India Quarterly. October 1978. 34. 4. 441–456. 150946502 .
  2. Web site: Gurtu. G. K.. From Kunjargaon to Agra: The Great Kunzru Family of Agra. 'Kashmiri Pandits : A Cultural Heritage. Lancer Books. 19 August 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120901015019/http://vitasta.org/pdf/Vitasta1999-2000.pdf. 1 September 2012.
  3. Web site: CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY OF INDIA – VOLUME XI. Debates of the Constituent Assembly. Parliament of India. 19 August 2012.
  4. Web site: Participants List of the USA Council of the IPR. 19 September 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20140429050216/http://dspace.wul.waseda.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2065/33669/4/KenkyuShiryoShirizu_1_Dai2Sho.pdf. 29 April 2014. dead.
  5. Vivekanandan. B.. A Tribute to Life and Work of Professor M.S. Rajan. International Studies. 12 April 2012. 47. 2–4. 99–111. 10.1177/002088171104700403. 154173182 .
  6. Web site: Former Commission Members. University Grants Commission. 18 August 2012.
  7. Sharga, Dr. B.N. (2008). Dr. Hriday Nath Kunzuru: A Great Patriot and Selfless Worker in S. Bhatt, J.N. Kaul, B.B. Dhar and Arun Shalia (ed.) Kashmiri Scholars Contribution to Knowledge and World Peace, Delhi:A.P.H. Publishing,, pp.39–53
  8. Web site: History of the India International Centre. India International Centre. 21 August 2012.
  9. Web site: India- 87 : PANDIT H.N.KUNZRU. 1 March 2013.
  10. Web site: Kunzru Centre: About Us. Kunzru Centre. 18 August 2012.
  11. Web site: Kunzru Lectures 2008. JNU. 18 August 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130302062341/http://www.jnu.ac.in/Academics/Schools/SchoolOfInternationalStudies/Making%20SIS%20visible/KunzruLectures/Poster2008.pdf. 2 March 2013.
  12. Web site: Former Members of the Rajya Sabha. Parliament of India. 19 August 2012.
  13. Web site: Kunzru. Hari. I'm all three — 'ari, Haah-ri and Hari. https://web.archive.org/web/20040317082804/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main.asp?filename=col013004hari.asp. dead. 17 March 2004. Tehelka. 19 August 2012.