Every cold winter morning in this
Nov 2013, when I log on to a particular website from India, I find a
recommendation by the editor for some news related to Jawahar Lal Nehru. May be
these goody goody articles are to
remember the first prime minister of India or may be to precondition the minds
of gullible persons to vote for certain political parties in 2014 elections.
This blog is not a political commentary. I would like to do that but not here.
I also don’t want to comment on Nehru for various actions that he took. The
pain of Nehruvian socialism that my aspiring generation has undergone in our
prime days is unforgettable. His dividing India on linguistic basis, was
another painful action for which we are still suffering, be it Belgaum or the
recent Andhra Telangana rift and there are many more in the pipeline.
Nehru was charismatic leader. I
liked the aristocracy that he had. One of his pictures, in the book that I had
on his USSR visit, was showing him making a toast at a dinner party. It was so
aristocratic that I still remember it even after nearly sixty years. Nehru’s
pictures of horse riding, playing golf were also equally impressive. Among
children Nehru was always projected as “Nehru
Chacha”, who always had a red rose pinned to his majestic sherwani. As an individual his
personality was adorable.
Nehru and trademark Rose |
The security that is seen today
for political leaders and at the airports was not imaginable till 1980. I have
seen motorcades with leaders shaking hands with their supporters. Security was
not lax, but was not needed in that period. I would like to share an incidence
of 1955. Not many persons may know that
there was an assassination attempt on Nehru in Nagpur. As a child I was a
witness to the incidence. This incident dates back to March 1955. I was a
primary student of Somalwar High School, Ramdas Peth, Nagpur. In the first week
of March during the prayer time students were informed that Nehru Chacha is visiting Nagpur and we have to
greet him when his motorcade passes on Wardha Road, not very far off from our
school. Wardha Road was also called as Jail Road in those days as Nagpur
Central Jail is also situated on the same road. This road connects airport in
south to Raj Bhavan in north, where Nehru was to stay during his Nagpur visit.
Janata Chowk, the junction of road passing over my school to the east and
Wardha Road was less than a kilometer from my school and was midway between my
home and school. I understand that this place is now called as Lokmat Chowk.
Wardha Road was a part of NH6, and considering the traffic in those days the
width of 60 feet was adequate. There were no pavements but some kachcha road on
both the sides of the road. We were supposed to form a single line and stand
facing the road with flags in our hand. We were instructed to wave the flags
and shout “Chacha Nehru Zindabad”. We
practiced this almost for a week. Finally on March 12th, 1955, we
were ready to greet “Chacha Nehru”.
There were no school uniforms in those days but we were asked to come in a
white shirt and a khaki half pant that almost every student had in those days
of Nehruvian socialism, being the most affordable. For few other students the
possession of Khaki half pant was due to allegiance of their parents to RSS, of
course of their parents as we were too small to understand political ideologies
of RSS or Congress.
That morning we marched in a
single file from our school. We made a brief halt at Caltex petrol pump that
situated little away from Wardha Road on the opposite side of a small factory
manufacturing industrial spades; we called it as “Phavadyacha Karkhana”. We had to wait there as police had to block
the traffic, so that we can occupy our positions on the road at the junction. A
police jeep sounding siren zoomed past on the Wardha Road. Immediately few
whistles were blown, smartly dressed policemen took their positions and traffic
was blocked. We were led to the junction by our teachers ensuring the flags
were held properly and instructions were given as to when to shout the slogans.
It was bright sunny morning and
it was brighter for us as we were facing east. In few minutes two smartly
dressed policemen, riding motorcycles one on the right side of the road and
another on the left were seen approaching from south towards us. That was the
indication that “Chacha Nehru” was coming. I strained my eyes to see
a white car little behind the “Daroga”,
vernacular synonym for the policeman who were riding the motorcycles. The car
was approaching at very slow speed. As the car came further I could see Nehru
standing in the rear open car in the center and greeting the waiting public
waving his both hands. He was in white sherwani
with his trademark red rose. We were instructed to shout the slogan and wave
the flags. We were certainly excited to see someone whom we had so far seen
only in pictures, in print media. No TVs in that era. The motorcade came
nearer. The policemen on the motorcycles crossed us and suddenly there was some
commotion just opposite me. On the other side of the road, I saw a man pushing
a cycle rickshaw northwards on the road, through the crowd that was watching
Nehru. His rickshaw breached the crowd and rolled over the road. He managed it
so well that the motorcycles had crossed and there was enough space between
them and Nehru’s car. The rickshaw rolled and hit the car in the front. Driver
applied the brakes; Nehru’s hands came down on the back of driver’s seat to
balance himself. In the meantime the man who pushed the rickshaw came running
towards the car, stood on the foot board behind the driver’s seat, grabbed
Nehru’s Sherwani near the neck with one hand and raised another to attack Nehru
with knife that he was holding. Nehru was surprised, he tried to resist. In the
meantime the Daroga riding the
motorcycle on the right side sprinted towards the assailant and overpowered
him. I was watching the entire episode with wide open eyes and awe. I was in no
position to scream, I was flabbergasted. I realized the gravity of situation
when I heard my schoolmate screaming and crying. Our teachers were trying to
pacify us and cordon off the area due to the commotion. Police from the van
that was following Nehru rushed and cleared the area. The attacker was hauled
to the van and the motorcade resumed its journey. Nehru looked composed and
continued waving to his admirers.
We returned to the school to
continue with our classes, but everyone was really disturbed.
I returned home
after the school and described the entire incidence to my parents and siblings,
who had already heard the same from neighbours and on radio. However my account
was most significant for them being actual witness to what they had heard. Next
day the newspapers carried te news in details. I was told that the attacker’s
name was Baburao Chakole, who did this just to get publicity and for no
political motives. The inspector who overpowered Baburao was attached to
Sitabuldi Police Station and his surname was Quin, I don’t remember his first
name (if anyone knows, please mention in the comments below).
Author in 1955 |
Days went by; I grew up but could
never forget the incidence. I might not have endorsed Nehru’s political
ideology or policies, but I admired him for his personality, his aristocracy
and calmness that he had after the assassination attempt. I doubt if India
would ever have that kind of aristocratic, charismatic leader? His positioning
in various segments was perfect, more so in 0-15 age group as Chacha. With 2014 election round the
corner will some of the leaders reposition themselves?
I hate cooking - Read at New blog from the author
Great article, sir.
ReplyDeleteI think Narendra Modi is doing good work positioning himself as one who will focus on growth instead of subsidies. It was rightly mentioned in ET today that 20% of the voting population in 2014 will be 1st time voters and will mainly be concerned about jobs. And with the growth stories of Gujarat on display, people will want to vote Modi into power...
I just hope he doesn't fall into the common trap all politicians do when they come into power... What do you think?
Your observations are right. Politics is a game of compulsions. Much depends upon numbers. All that we can do is ensure we, the educated mass votes. Middle class has the strength but it is not recognized by them as it is getting self-centric. They are not ignorant but there is inertia. And of course the youth power has to be patriotic and not get swayed by craze for easy money by any means. Most of them are also part of middle class. Hope the picture changes....
DeleteThe name of the policeman is Terence Quinn. He was an Anglo Indian and was of an Inspector's rank. He was awarded the gallantry medal for his bold action in saving the Prime Minister's life.
ReplyDeleteP V Rajgopal
I was of similar age as your and was at the Kasturchand park with my brothers and parents. We were anxiously waiting to listen to Nehru chacha . He spoke in chaste Hindi. He described the incident as small but also told that “चाकु तो छोटा था पर ख़तरनाक ज़रूर था” We all returned back to our quarter in Veterinary Hospital Sitabuldi and heaved a sigh of relief that name of our City was not
ReplyDeletemalinged by that small incident .
March 1955 I was also in somalwar HS, 1956 I was shifted to kamptee. Looks like we have much old association.
ReplyDelete