Preface This Volume does not contain an assessment of Nehru the Prime Minister, for such an evaluation is only possible in the historical sense and we are still too near the events which took place since he assumed office. It is truly a Birthday Book. Friends and admirers in and outside India have attempted to etch in broad detail the many qualities of head and heart of Nehru the man, and to integrife the life history of the subject into the Freedom battle of India and its consummation. We recognise the difficulties inherent in weighing and marking contemporaly events in relation to the life and being of an idol of the nation, as much as we are certain that individual contributors also are conscious of the same. However, the first half of the Volume deals with Nehru the man, and his contribution to the build-ing up of modern India. The second broad division of the Volume begins with special articles by national and international contributors who are recognised to be specialists in their own respective fields of work. A representative selection of Indian Letters is also included in this division. We have made an attempt to bring together the most representative collection of photographs covering the entire life of Nehru. A few specimen of distinctive Indian paintings (some of them so far unpublished) are also included, indicating the cultural heritage of the people of this country. Each one of the thil-pieces has been specially drawn for the Volume, and is an epitome in line of the life and senti-ment of our people. We are aware of the numerous limitations of the Volume, and part of these are traceable to the understandable reluctance to evaluate the work of one who holds the highest office in the country, which many friends and admirers would have liked to do in other circumstances. An almost identical edition in the Hindi language is issued as a companion to this Volume. The net proceeds from the sale of these two Volumes will be given away to any charity named by Jawaharlal Nehru.