Page 11 - seniors today november 2020

accompanied the motorcade to Shadipur,
some 30 miles away from Srinagar,
confluence of rivers Sindh and Jhelum. This
ended my association with this outstanding
human being.”
I remember many stories my father used to
tell people about Mr Nehru and his human
nature and compassion. Two very famous
incidents happened and the story behind
the events were not widely known.

The famous surf riding photo at Nageen lake. Seconds
later, he fell down and father who was in the motor boat
was frightened of the consequences

The other story which was actually my
father’s favourite was the time when he
was given permission by Mr Nehru to be
on the motor boat which was being used
for surfing at the placid waters of Nageen
lake. After several rounds of water surfing
It was well known that the relations between Sadr-i-Ri- my father, wanting a better angle for
yasat Maharaja Karan Singh’s family and Prime Minister
Sheikh Abdullah were not good photographing Mr Nehru in action, decided
to stand up in the boat thus unbalancing
In this photograph you will notice the the motor boat itself. In order to correct the
newlywed Maharaja Karan Singh and balance, the driver took a sharp turn and
his wife alighting from an aircraft along thus a tired Mr Nehru suddenly flipped
with Mr Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah. The and lost his balance and fell into the water
story goes that as it was well known that with a splash. While the panic-stricken
the Sadr-i-Riyasat and his Prime Minister security on the lake banks looked on, the
were not on good terms with each other; driver immediately turned back to pick up
it was highly likely that upon returning Mr Nehru from the water. A very tired Mr
from his marriage his bride and the Sadr-
i-Riyasat would not be received by Sheikh
sahib at the airport. In order to go around
the conundrum Mr Nehru decided to
visit Kashmir and bring along Maharaja
and Maharani in the state aircraft. That
was so that Sheikh sahib who was a great
friend to Mr Nehru would have no option
but to come to the airport to receive them.
On this trip Mrs Edwina Mountbatten
accompanied them and can be seen in the
photograph alighting from the aircraft. Baltal, Sonamarg with Mrs Indira Gandhi, while on holiday

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #17 | NOVEMBER 2020 11