Jawaharlal Nehru vs Robert Muldoon

Nehru, deeply affected by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, joined the Indian independence movement. He became a key leader in the Indian National Congress, advocating for non-violent resistance against British rule.

Nehru was elected President of the Indian National Congress at its Lahore session, where he declared Purna Swaraj (complete independence) as the party's goal. This marked a shift from dominion status to full independence.

Nehru, alongside Gandhi, led the Quit India Movement, demanding an end to British rule. He was arrested and imprisoned for nearly three years, but the movement intensified pressure on Britain to leave India.

Nehru became the first Prime Minister of independent India, delivering his 'Tryst with Destiny' speech. He led the nation through partition, integration of princely states, and the drafting of a secular, democratic constitution.

Nehru co-founded the Non-Aligned Movement with Tito, Nasser, and Sukarno, advocating for a third way during the Cold War. This positioned India as a leader of developing nations, promoting peace and decolonization.

Robert Muldoon led the National Party to victory in the 1975 general election, defeating the Labour government. He became Prime Minister, a position he held for nine years, known for his confrontational style and populist policies.

Muldoon's government launched the 'Think Big' program, a series of large-scale industrial projects including synthetic fuel plants and steel mills. The projects aimed to reduce New Zealand's dependence on imported oil but incurred massive debt and were criticized as economically unsound.

Muldoon's government allowed the South African rugby team to tour New Zealand despite apartheid, sparking massive protests. The tour divided the country and led to widespread civil disobedience, with police clashing with protesters.

Muldoon imposed a comprehensive wage and price freeze to combat inflation. The freeze was initially popular but led to distortions in the economy and was eventually abandoned, contributing to his government's defeat in 1984.

Muldoon called a snap election in 1984, which his National Party lost to David Lange's Labour Party. The defeat ended his nine-year tenure as Prime Minister, and he later faced a constitutional crisis over the transition of power.