New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Monday said the contributions made by former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to shape modern India were well known and his legacy must be upheld by rising above political considerations.

"It is due to the vision and foresightedness of Pandit Nehru that today the country has flourished as a rich and secular nation with strong economic and social conditions," he told reporters here.

He said Nehru's efforts to modernise the nation were not meant to westernise it but develop India by incorporating the best aspects and good practices of the western world.

He was here to take part in an international conference organised by the Congress to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of India's first prime minister.

Remembering the old days when he was elected a member of parliament in the third Lok Sabha in 1962, Virbhadra Singh said he was proud of having got an opportunity to closely see the working of Nehru as the prime minister.

"The people of Himachal Pradesh would always remain grateful to Nehru and his love and affection for the people of this hilly state."

He said Nehru did most of the work on his book 'Discovery of India' in Himachal Pradesh itself.

Virbhadra Singh also appreciated the efforts of the organisers to make this international conference a success and hoped that the year-long commemoration of the 125th birth anniversary of Nehru would help in upholding his legacy in its real perspective in the country as well as abroad.