While Nehru was behind the bars for almost 20 months, his wife, Kamala, was staying in Badenweiler,

Switzerland. On the day of 4th of September 1935, he was suddenly released owing to his wife’s bad
health. It took him 5 days to reach Badenweiler from Almora jail. After travelling through various modes
and finally meeting his wife, Nehru was quite surprised to see the same old brave smile on her face.
Though she was weak and frail, but she was the same strong and cheerfull lady. In the next few days,
Kamala’s health improved but continued to fluctuate. As the doctors gave hopes to Nehru, he continued
to be Kamala’s constant companion. He read her books, talked to her about their good memories and
what would they do in future. Kamala was also visited by many old friends who were surprised to see
her smile and cheerfull despite her health. This makes Nehru to talk about what a person Kamala was.
He describes her education, personality, likes and dislikes nativity and how brave she was as a person.
This shows us how deeply connected he was with Kamala and even the cheer of being released from jail
after 20 months was ovetaken by the joy of seeing Kamala’s smile. He then goes on talking about their
early days of marriage, when Mr. Nehru was a self obsessed person and didn’t give Kamala importance
as his colleague. This shows us how self centered a person was Nehru in his young days. Though working
in his full capacity but looking at others as his shadow. He also acknowledges Kamala’s important role in
his life as she was one who he came running to find all the solace and refreshemnt after getting fully
drained; physically and mentally. But Kamala’s had a strong desire to take part in the national
movement and leave her own mark in history rather than being Mr. Nehru’s Shadow. Mr Nehru got this
message gradually when she started showing her interests in the national upheavel in the early 1930s. It
was a time when the women’s participation in the national movement took a pace. As most of the men
leaders were put behind the bars, it were the women who took charge of the movement in those days.
Kamala took the charge of Allahabad and in a very short time became the pride of Allahabad, as Mr.
Nehru describes. This was a matter of great joy for a lot but also many had difficulties accepting
women’s participation. One of them who opposed the idea of women going out on the streets was Mr.
Nehru’s Father, Motilal Nehru. Though he had a conservative mind which made it difficult for him to
accept women’s participation, but he never opposed to this. I feel this was primarily because of the
drive for a free and independent nation which has overshadowed personal insecurities and reservations.
But for Mr. Motilal Nehru, this drive couldn’t make his eyes witness the freedom , as he passed away
just a few years later. This event gradually brought Kamala and Mr. Nehru closer than ever in their
married life. But this didn’t last of long as their work tied their hands. Mr. Nehru also goes on to say how
they weren’t with each other when they needed the most. But they never showed or expressed this
emotional trauma to anyone, which shows us how strong was the drive and urge for independence was
in them. Mr. Nehru also talks about how difficult and complex a human relationship can be. Though he
and Kamala had very different views about things, but they also shared a lot in common. The differences
in thinking had lead them a lot of arguments but they always kept the spark alive. This shows us how
fundamental a relationship is. Coming back to the 1935s, Kamala’s health improved and she fought the
crisis with a brave smile all throughout. Then came the news of Nehru being elected as the president of
INC for the second time. A large dillema surrounded the two as whether he should stay with Kamala or
leave for india to disperse his duties as the leader of the national movement. As the drive for nation in
them made it evident, they decided to choose the nation first. Kamala was also shifted from
Badenweiler to Laussane. After they decided that Nehru should leave for india to take part in the
national movement, Nehru consulted with Kamala’s doctor and booked his tickets. Though it was
evident that Kamala wasn’t happy with the idea of Nehru Leaving, still she never expressed this. In a few
days, things took a very sharp turn and Kamala passed away on the morning of 28 th February in Nehru
and their daughter Indira’s presence. As Nehru describes, a very important part of him died with her
that day. He goes on to say how he missed Kamala’s smile when they buried her in a crematorium in
Laussane. After his wife’s sudden demise Nehru and Indira went to Montruex to spend a few days alone
in her grief. In this period of mourning, Musollini sent him condolences and even wanted to meet him
personally. As Nehru was aware of the Facist Propaganda going on India, he kept declining this invitation
with a subtle courtesy. He then left for India. But he had to stay for an evening in Rome. That evening
turned out to be one of the most exhausting of his life, as he was approached by the Duce to meet him
at an arrangement with a special invitation. He finally conveyed his message to the duce with full
courtesy and continued his journey for India. As he finally reached his motherland, he was surrounded
by sorrow, grief and loneliness, but what never stopped burning in his mind was the fire for the national
movement.