The proper scope of history, in his mind, could never be local or even national. However, what is characteristic of his narration of world history is that for Nehru no part of the world could be understood in isolation from all others.
In the 196 letters Nehru wrote to Indira between 1930 to 1933, he produced a sweeping account of world history. They also provide important insights into the way the discipline of history affected Nehru into becoming the astute statesman he went on to be. Historian David Kopf writes that “Nehru’s simplicity of style and his obvious preoccupation with recent events have created the impression in many that the book is not to be taken as a serious work of history.” Analysing Nehru’s other reputed book on history, “Discovery of India,” his biographer, S.Gopal writes that “it is a great jumble of a book, which bears the marks of haste and tension.” A closer analysis of his works though would show that both the ‘Glimpses of world history’ and ‘The discovery of India’, along with his autobiography, have made important contributions to history writing. In later years though, historians have often been critical of Nehru’s attempt at writing history. Nehru as a historian was at one level the curious philosopher trying to seek answers of the human present and future, and at another level, he was also the loving father who wished to present his daughter more than just good wishes on her thirteenth birthday. It is more like a long storytelling session that an elder person has chalked out for the child he cares most about. Understandably, his style of writing history has a simplicity attached to it. In the process, Nehru was guiding his young daughter towards a path of enlightenment and rationality. As he begins his letters to Indira Gandhi, he writes, “you know sweetheart, how I dislike sermonizing and doling out good advice.” He goes on to write that instead of passing on wisdom in the form of sermons, he would rather narrate to her the history of world civilisations. It was also an effort by a father to pass on wisdom to his teenage daughter. But the “Glimpses of world history” was more than just a voyage to discover the past.
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