Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, was not only a political giant but also a man with impeccable taste. From his iconic Nehru jackets to his razor-sharp grooming, Nehru obviously had an astute sense of fashion. Even as political fashion changed with times, Nehru’s timeless choices remain so to this day.
Recently, the internet has unearthed a rather amusing and humanising detail from Nehru’s youth. A letter, reportedly penned by a 21-year-old Nehru to his father Motilal Nehru in September 1911, has resurfaced online and gone viral—not for any stirring message, but for his candid worry over hair loss.
In the letter, Nehru shared his growing frustration over his receding hairline. “The state of my head has certainly not improved lately. I believe it is a bit worse. I’ve been to the specialist twice and hope to return there in a short while. I don’t suppose there is any likelihood of me regaining any of my lost hair. I could possibly hold on to what little remains with me,” he wrote. He even told his father not to send any oil, saying, “Kishan Bhai made me get his own special treatment for a fortnight, but it did not do much for me. I am rather tired of my hair. The time and money I have already spent on it could have been used in a much better way.”
Don’t worry Kings and Queens, Nehru also started losing his hair in his early 20s pic.twitter.com/D3UfnQkrMu
— Weirdly Wired (@6drinkamy_) May 27, 2025
The letter, found in the first volume of the Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, edited by Nehru himself, has resonated with many online. Social media netizens were drawn to the young leader’s relatability. “This guy is so relatable,” one commented. Another joked, “Thank God, I was afraid I was the only one to go bald at 21.”
Throwing in a dash of humor, a person joked, “Perhaps it’s Nehru’s way of giving room for all those great ideas to shine through.”
