[url="http://sify.com/news/internet/fullstory.php?id=13287671&vsv=94"]A rare Nehru interview on History Talking.com[/url]
Sunday, 19 October , 2003, 13:49
History Talking.com, an online oral history of the South Asian diasporas, has come across a rare interview of country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru given to a Kenyan journalist of Indian origin Chaman Lal Chaman during the Chinese war of 1962.
When the Chinese army marched across the Himalayas, India was shocked. In those days the biggest concentration of the NRIs was then in the East African countries like Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. And they were naturally worried and wanted to know what was actually happening to their country. But news from India was hard to come by. The Kenyan Broadcasting Corporation had sent Chaman to Delhi to cover the war.
During the visit, Chaman managed to record an interview with the Prime Minister Nehru.
Itâs a remarkably transparent testament of Nehruâs frustration and sadness. Nevertheless, as the prime minister of a nation Nehru never missed an opportunity of inspiring, advising and teaching his people. When asked about the prevalent fears that this war could deteriorate into a full-scale war, Nehru focussed on fear rather than the war: "First of all I will advise people to throw out this fear from their hearts. They have to be ready for every situation. If you are afraid, your strength declines."
So will you be changing the direction of your policy towards China, asked Chaman? Nehru acknowledged that China was a powerful country, but then India was not a small country either. "We donât want to fight or defeat China, we want to keep every part of India in our possession and that we shall do, whether it takes one year or two year or what ever time it takes. It is not a small task."
When the young reporter asked him to throw light on the future of the Panchsheel â the policy of peaceful coexistence with China, Nehru sounded slightly irritated: "Throwing light is now difficult, as the Chinese have spread darkness all over. (He laughs faintly and rather nervously). How can I throw light on Panchsheel? (He sounds irritated) By this war they have totally acted against the spirit of Panchsheel. Panchsheel cannot take place in the air or cannot be implemented by one side alone. It can only work if both countries agree to follow it. If the Chinese donât want to follow Panchsheel, itâs finished."
Chamanâs weeklong broadcasts from New Delhi had electrified the people back in Kenya. As his flight landed in Nairobi he was driven straight to the Nairobi City Hall. "I was given a heroâs welcome. I told the waiting crowds that a hard pushed India needs resources to fight this war. There was instant rush for donations; particularly women gave their gold bangles, chains, and rings. When I returned home that evening, I found my wife without earrings. I instantly knew what she has done with them," said a smiling Chaman.
Sunday, 19 October , 2003, 13:49
History Talking.com, an online oral history of the South Asian diasporas, has come across a rare interview of country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru given to a Kenyan journalist of Indian origin Chaman Lal Chaman during the Chinese war of 1962.
When the Chinese army marched across the Himalayas, India was shocked. In those days the biggest concentration of the NRIs was then in the East African countries like Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. And they were naturally worried and wanted to know what was actually happening to their country. But news from India was hard to come by. The Kenyan Broadcasting Corporation had sent Chaman to Delhi to cover the war.
During the visit, Chaman managed to record an interview with the Prime Minister Nehru.
Itâs a remarkably transparent testament of Nehruâs frustration and sadness. Nevertheless, as the prime minister of a nation Nehru never missed an opportunity of inspiring, advising and teaching his people. When asked about the prevalent fears that this war could deteriorate into a full-scale war, Nehru focussed on fear rather than the war: "First of all I will advise people to throw out this fear from their hearts. They have to be ready for every situation. If you are afraid, your strength declines."
So will you be changing the direction of your policy towards China, asked Chaman? Nehru acknowledged that China was a powerful country, but then India was not a small country either. "We donât want to fight or defeat China, we want to keep every part of India in our possession and that we shall do, whether it takes one year or two year or what ever time it takes. It is not a small task."
When the young reporter asked him to throw light on the future of the Panchsheel â the policy of peaceful coexistence with China, Nehru sounded slightly irritated: "Throwing light is now difficult, as the Chinese have spread darkness all over. (He laughs faintly and rather nervously). How can I throw light on Panchsheel? (He sounds irritated) By this war they have totally acted against the spirit of Panchsheel. Panchsheel cannot take place in the air or cannot be implemented by one side alone. It can only work if both countries agree to follow it. If the Chinese donât want to follow Panchsheel, itâs finished."
Chamanâs weeklong broadcasts from New Delhi had electrified the people back in Kenya. As his flight landed in Nairobi he was driven straight to the Nairobi City Hall. "I was given a heroâs welcome. I told the waiting crowds that a hard pushed India needs resources to fight this war. There was instant rush for donations; particularly women gave their gold bangles, chains, and rings. When I returned home that evening, I found my wife without earrings. I instantly knew what she has done with them," said a smiling Chaman.