Kamala Nehru had been suffering from tuberculosis for many years and her condition worsened in 1935. She was taken to a sanatorium in Switzerland for treatment and sent back to India when she got better.
When her health deteriorated again, she was admitted in a sanatorium in Germany for treatment. Nehru, who was in prison at that time, was informed of her condition and realised that she had not much longer to live.
Upon his release, he rushed to Germany in October 1935. Her condition improved initially but deteriorated again in 1936. She was taken to Switzerland again, but this time she did not respond and died in Lausanne on 28, February 1936.
Kamala’s marriage to Jawaharlal was not a happy one to begin with, but over time their differences gave way to a deep attachment. As their relationship matured, Kamala evolved into a deeply motivated member of the freedom struggle.
She was particularly successful in championing women’s rights. Her husband watched her transition with pride. The shy teenager he had married had grown into a capable and bold woman and in their last years together a close bond of affection had grown between them. In the prologue to his autobiography, Nehru recounts that he was devastated by Kamala’s death.
Picture Credit : Google
