Page 12 - seniors today november 2020

Horse riding at Sonamarg, his favourite holiday pastime It was well known that his friendship with Shiekh Abdul-
lah was very warm and cordial
Nehru was practically a deadweight ,and
the two of them could barely pull him up
on the motor boat after a longish struggle.
By then the security detail was in panic
but were relieved to see him back on the
boat. Mr Nehru waved to them and I am
sure they must have sighed with relief.
However, as soon as the boat reached the
bathing boat, my father was corralled by
the security staff for questioning. Mr Nehru
saw this and told his staff that it was an
accident and that the photographer should Horse riding with his grandsons Rajiv and Sanjay
not be bothered. On Mr Nehru’s next visit
to Kashmir the next year, my father took
this photograph to him to be autographed
and Mr Nehru, remembering the incident,
jokingly told everyone present that this was
the time that he nearly died, much to the
embarrassment of my father.
Mr Nehru’s human side was very evident
from the interactions he used to have at
Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg with the
large Gujjar and Bakarwal community. He
was equally at ease with meeting statesman
and the illiterate Gujjars and that was the
most endearing quality he had! In a reflective mood

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