Page 9 - seniors today november 2020
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Even on holiday, never a quiet moment!
these were the basic requirements. What news photograph, I hesitated to take
put me in this special category was Nehru’s a photograph of Panditji without his
acceptance to having me around, as well affirmation. One day in March 1949 he was
as my closeness and good rapport with staying at Chashma Shahi guest house (now
local leadership like Sheikh Abdullah and Raj Bhawan, Sringar) where he had brought
Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad. This was Lady Edwina Mountbatten to show her
an important element. Another factor in Kashmir. On a bright day both of them came
my favour was my good relationship with out on the balcony where Nehru pointed
Director, Intelligence Bureau (GOI) Gopi to her the Char Chinari at the Dal lake. Mr
Krishan Handoo and Panditji’s personal Handoo, DBI and I were in the lawn below.
security officer Mr Mehta and physician. I had my camera ready to use. I looked
Additionally, I worked in a low-key manner, up and waited to catch his eye. By signs I
and also worked with well known news sought his nod to take a photograph of them
organisations like The Times of India, together. As soon as he gave his nod, I took
Times – London, Reuters, BBC, New York the photograph.
Times, and Time-Life. “It was a difficult and costly affair to
“Above all was the confidence I was able trail him to photograph. There was a
to gain among them. I strictly followed swimming incident which haunts me till
directions given not to take a particular date. In summer of 1952 while holidaying
photograph. Unless it was purely a in Srinagar he decided to go for a swim in
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #17 | NOVEMBER 2020 9
