many indians today complain about nehru's "daffodil-sniffing" idealism, and unwise economic policies. he probably was essential to keeping india a democracy, which most of the elite recognise today is a good thing for india; his contemporaries would probably have turned india into a failed authoritarian state. but i didn't know his "daffodil-sniffing" went to such extents: he refused to accept a permanent security council seat at the UN for india, when the US offered it in 1953, and suggested that the seat go to china instead.
http://www.thehindujobs.com/thehindu/2004/01/10/stories/2004011004021200.htm
