Sham S. Misri
In 1960, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India visited Kashmir, the land of his ancestors. He was accompanied by his only daughter Indira Gandhi, and her two sons. On the suggestions of chief Minister, he was invited by the Principal of Govt. Women’s college to watch a drama. Just before the curtain was up, Pandit Nehru suddenly stood up . A hush descended on the auditorium. Has anything gone wrong? Everyone held his breath. Pandit Nehru walked back down the aisle and was looking for someone. Moments later, he returned with his cabinet colleague who had been asked to sit in the rear of the auditorium; thinking that he was not so –VIP. Later on, someone vacated a seat and Lal Bahadur Shastri sat down next to Nehru. On Nehru’s other side sat Indira, and next to her, her two sons. Who would have guessed that the audience watching the drama consisted of four Prime ministers of India that day!
In 1960, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India visited Kashmir, the land of his ancestors. He was accompanied by his only daughter Indira Gandhi, and her two sons. On the suggestions of chief Minister, he was invited by the Principal of Govt. Women’s college to watch a drama. Just before the curtain was up, Pandit Nehru suddenly stood up . A hush descended on the auditorium. Has anything gone wrong? Everyone held his breath. Pandit Nehru walked back down the aisle and was looking for someone. Moments later, he returned with his cabinet colleague who had been asked to sit in the rear of the auditorium; thinking that he was not so –VIP. Later on, someone vacated a seat and Lal Bahadur Shastri sat down next to Nehru. On Nehru’s other side sat Indira, and next to her, her two sons. Who would have guessed that the audience watching the drama consisted of four Prime ministers of India that day!
Pandit Nehru, the Prime Minister of India liked the drama. He had come to Kashmir to rest and recover in the gardens of Royal Spring of Chasma Shahi. He was staying at the Government Guest house. Some children managed to meet Mr. Nehru at his Government Guest House in Kashmir. These lucky children shook their hands with Pandit Nehru. These children had never imagined that they would ever have a private audience, least of all be within handshaking distance with Pandit Nehru.
The children still nervous, their tongues firmly glued to the roof of their mouths, still standing in front of first Prime Minister of India. “What is your greatest ambition?” Nehru asked, to help them recover.
Mrs. Gandhi who was sitting nearby smiled and asked these children if they would like some lime juice drink. In a dying gesture one of the children thrust her autograph book into Pandit Nehru’s hand, and he opened what turned out to be the family laundry book!
Pandit Nehru, the hero of freedom movement of India, read aloud, “Two pajamas-Papaji, three shirts….” Both father and daughter burst out laughing. But he graciously signed the autograph book!
Books by the Author(s)
Cleopatra and Harmachis - Part-2: The Finding of Treasure
No comments:
Post a Comment