Nehru, Motilal (1861–1931)

Indian nationalist leader, lawyer, and journalist. He became a follower of Gandhi in 1919, founded Allahabad's Independent newspaper, and became the first president of the reconstructed Indian National Congress. In the 1920s he co-headed the Swarajiya party (with Chitta Ranjan Das) in which members of the Congress entered the legislatures, and wrote a report as a basis for Indian constitutional development and the resolution of political differences between Hindus and Muslims. The report was not, however, acceptable to members of the All-India Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

He was the father of Jawaharlal Nehru.