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I also Remember Pandit Nehru
By Nawal K
Pandey
May 30, 2008 |
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I was a
young college student in Patna, a nobody!
However, I was a Youth Congress volunteer. It
was in 1962 at the Patna All India Congress that
I was assigned to look after the guests at the
main podium of the convention. There were many
dignitaries including political bigwigs. I still
remember a few names like that of Mr. Jagjiwan
Ram and Dr. Ram Subhag Singh. But I was more
interested in looking at a movie star from our
State. He was Mr. Tiwari who mostly performed
the role of a supporting actor. In the movie, he
always looked dark but in person he was of fair
complexion.
Suddenly something happened. Amidst commotion
dawned a gentleman, without warning and without
security guards. No body expected him but he was
there to inspect the preparation of the
convention. I saw him interacting with people
but, in that big a crowd, it was difficult to
figure out who the person was. As I was making
room for other dignitaries to move up, out of
nowhere came behind me a slender person and
placed his hands on my shoulder. As soon as I
turned around, I was dumbfounded. I could not
believe it. What surprised the most was that he
had his hands stretched towards me. I remember
his eyes because when I stretched my hands, he
came face to face with me. His fingers were
soft, arms long; and he wore the famous Nehru
outfit. Only then I realized that he had to be
Pt. Nehru. Though I missed touching his feet,
seeing him in person was the finest moment of my
life. I feel blessed that I have shaken hands
with the creator of India. Now I am reaching the
age he died. I often read about the leaders of
my country and I think about them. But when I
think about Pt. Nehru, the story of my
accidental meeting comes alive. A lot has been
written about Pt. Nehru but the one thing our
posterity must remember is that he loved India
as much as India loved him.
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