Nehru was an erudite?his knowledge of India?s traditions, history and culture made him one of the greatest leaders in the nation?s history. The Discovery of India was written by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru during his imprisonment from 1942 to 1945 at Ahmednagar Fort in present-day Maharashtra by British colonial authorities, when India was at the threshold of independence. First published in 1946, this book remains a modern classic written by India?s first and longest-serving Prime Minister. The Discovery of India traces the journey of India from the ancient history of her invaders to the final years of exploitation at the hands of the British. Drawing on his knowledge of the Upanishads, Vedas and historical texts, Nehru presents the development of India, beginning with the Indus Valley Civilisation and continuing through the socio-political transformations introduced by successive foreign powers, culminating in the contemporary period of his time. Imprisoned alongside other freedom fighters such as Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Govind Ballabh Pant, Narendra Deva and Asaf Ali, Nehru used this period of confinement and intellectual exchange to document his reflections on India's diverse past. Providing a rich narrative of Indian history, philosophy and culture from the perspective of a leader striving for independence, this book reflects his personal and intellectual exploration of the idea of India.