Memories of a different era

Many of us, in fact most of us, are good people. And, quite rightly, we take pride in being such. It is only rarely that we come across people who fit the description of being great people.

I was serving as the Chief Secretary to the government of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and YSR was the Chief Minister. On coming to know that C Rangarajan, the former Governor of the state, was in Hyderabad for a few days, YSR asked me to go and call on him to request him to settle in AP.

Accordingly I went across and conveyed the Chief Minister's desire. Rangarajan gave me a patient hearing while I made out a long and passionate case for his settling down in Hyderabad.

In fact, as directed by the Chief Minister, I even let it be known that the State government would be happy to provide him with a piece of land, in a prime location, to construct a house.

At the end of it all, however, he declined with a smile, and said he had no intention of changing his plans to settle in Chennai. As I returned to the office I could not help wondering how many people in Rangarajan's place would have acted the way he did.

I was Secretary to the Governor when Sharda Mukerjea was the Governor of Andhra Pradesh. She was the widow of the first ever Indian Air Chief of Staff Subroto Mukerjea. She was also a grandchild of the legendary C.R. Das and connected closely to the Nehru family.

Impeccably well-mannered and courteous to a fault, she performed her duties as a hostess with aplomb. Grace and affection were embodied in her attitude towards her guests.

One day the Deputy High Commissioner of UK, stationed in Chennai and on a visit to Hyderabad, came to call on the Governor. During the conversation Mrs. Mukerjea happened to ask the visitor whether he had had breakfast.

Upon learning that that was not so, she first saw to it that a very substantial repast was arranged before continuing the meeting! A true reflection of the way in which she had been brought up!

Quite contrary to the somewhat forbidding, stiff and serious front he presented to the world outside, NTR was, as an individual, a very happily married man in love with his wife and children.

He used to joke that, in view of the number of children he had, he was a "Paramahamsa" and sympathised with me for having only two children! One remembers how Basavatarakamma, his wife, treated him with touching affection and devotion.

In fact, early one morning, I saw NTR being fed by her by hand, eating curd rice with the inevitable "aavakaya". A memory I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Another interesting incident I had with NTR was when I accompanied him for the recording of an Independence Day eve message at Akashvani, Hyderabad.

Having just come out of the film field and entered politics, NTR had not forgotten his old ways yet. Movies are usually divided into 'scenes' which are then split into 'shots' and then, further, into what are known as 'takes' and, finally 'bits'.

When applied to the task on hand, that method resulted in close to two hours being spent on recording a ten minute message to the people of Andhra Pradesh!

In 1982, Giani Zail Singh, President of India, had to have a bypass surgery. Vice President Hidayatullah (as whose Secretary I was serving at that time), had just been sworn in as the "Vice President of India performing the functions of the President of India" (a somewhat lengthy designation arrived at after much legal wrangling).

Soon after the ceremony the new incumbent was required to append his signature in a register which, at that time, was in an adjoining room. The two rooms are connected by a narrow corridor through which I had to go to fetch the register.

As I started, I found Prime Minister Mrs. Gandhi at the other end of the corridor. She smiled at me and said, "you go first". Naturally, I wished to give her precedence and stepped back.

Upon her insistence, I went first and duly returned with the register. And that evening, after returning home, I proudly told my wife that I had spoken to the Prime Minister!

Much like the character in the well-known Telugu story, who came in the way of the King, and forced the King to say, "move out of my way!", and later boasted that he had been accosted by the King!

Another memorable incident is associated with Khandubhai Desai the veteran freedom fighter, labour leader and Governor of Andhra Pradesh at the time the following incident took place.

The Shah of Iran was to visit Hyderabad city and, in that connection, the Governor was to host a banquet in honour of the visiting dignitary.

Knowing how fastidious the Iranian delegation was about matters relating to protocol, especially those pertaining to the manner in which the Head of their State was to be addressed, the Chief Secretary and the Governor's Secretary patiently briefed Khandubhai in detail about what was expected from him during that event, in particular, the need for the Governor to address the Shah as "Your Imperial Highness".

The Governor put up with it for sometime, and then, impatiently, cut short further briefing, saying that, as an experienced political leader, and with his experience in the labour movement in the country, he knew how to conduct himself on such occasions. He dismissively told them that they were but children when he first entered politics, which was not entirely untrue!

The banquet began and, as required by protocol, Khandubhai was seated next to the Shah. And just imagine the chagrin and embarrassment of the gathering when he turned to the Chief Guest, slapped him heartily on the back, and said "Arrey Shah Saab!"

The point being made is that, given his stature in national politics and the regard which leaders had for him, Khandubhai could get away with what he did. Not for him, the niceties of diplomatic protocol!

Khandubhai was by nature unassuming, simple and, in fact, sometimes, quite innocent. Once, when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Andhra Pradesh state, she wrote to him wondering whether she could stay as guest in Raj Bhavan.

Such was the meticulously polite attitude of important leaders those days.

Khandubhai, naturally, said yes but, typical of him, wrote to the Prime Minister saying that only vegetarian food would be served! And, it must be said to the credit of Mrs. Gandhi, that she graciously complied and, in fact, paid glowing compliments to the Governor for the quality of the food.

As his tenure was coming to an end Khandubhai grew restless. Given his age, and the condition of his health, he was keen to return to his village and spend his last days there.

When several attempts to impress the Prime Minister and the President with his desire bore no fruit, he finally threatened to "demit" office – a provision available in the Constitution, whereby a Governor can just relinquish the post, if the circumstances so warrant. Fortunately, the threat worked and Khandubhai was allowed to retire in peace and go back to his village.

(The writer is former Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh)