Nehru (2009) considered himself to be socialist. As early as in 1929, in the presidential address of AICC in Lahore he said:
I must frankly confess that I am a socialist and a republican, and am no believer in kings and princes, or in the order which produces the modern kings of industry, who have greater power over the lives and fortunes of men than even the kings of old, and whose methods are as predatory as those of the old feudal aristocracy. I recognise, however, that it may not be possible for a body constituted as is this National Congress, and in the present circumstances of the country, to adopt a full socialistic programme. But we must realise that the philosophy of socialism has gradually permeated the entire structure of society the world over, and almost the only points in dispute are the pace and the methods of advance to its full realisation. India will have to go that way, too, if she seeks to end her poverty and inequality, though she may evolve her own methods and may adapt the ideal to the genius of her race…
Our economic programme must, therefore, be based on a human outlook and must not sacrifice man to money. If an industry cannot be run without starving its workers, then the industry must close down. If the workers on the land have not enough to eat, then the intermediaries who deprive them of their full share must go. The least that every worker in field or factory is entitled to is a minimum wage which will enable him to live in moderate comfort and humane hours of labour which do not break his strength and spirit….
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On Nehru, Moraes writes in Encyclopaedia Britannica: “The four pillars of his domestic policies were democracy, socialism, unity, and secularism. He succeeded to a large extent in maintaining the edifice supported by these four pillars during his lifetime.” Nehru’s model of development is known as the model of industrial socialism. He wanted to make the public sector occupy the commanding heights of economy. He was inspired by the industrial development of the West, and abolition of class differences envisioned in the socialist countries. He had no deep interest in the religious and spiritual matters and like any other socialist he considered them to be part of superstructure of feudal, agrarian society. He said that the parties raising religious issues are basically political and they have no interest in or contribution to religion, culture or economy. He applied the Marxist method of materialistic interpretation of history to understand the historical and socio-economic problems of India. Nehru was greatly committed to abolition of poverty and destitution and he thought that industrialization under state control can achieve this.
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