Jawaharlal Nehru with his mother.
Jawaharlal Nehru writes in his books about his mother, Swarup Rani Nehru, with deep tenderness, comparing her gentle, non-threatening presence to the formidable, authoritative figure of his father, Motilal Nehru.
Nehru describes Swarup Rani as a delicate, beautiful woman who suffered from persistent ill health throughout most of her adult life. He also touches upon the cultural dynamics of their household.
One of the most poignant narratives in Nehru's writings is how his fragile, traditional mother transformed when the family joined Mahatma Gandhi's non-cooperation movement. Despite her physical ailments, Swarup Rani did not stand in the way of her husband and son risking imprisonment; instead, she threw herself into the struggle.
In An Autobiography, Nehru notes with immense pride how she braved police lathis (batons) during protests. In one incident during the Civil Disobedience movement, she was struck and injured by the police during a demonstration. Nehru writes about the agony of being locked away in prison while knowing his frail mother was on the streets facing state violence, yet he notes her absolute resilience.