Reminiscences of the Nehru age
by M. O. Mathai
Vikas Publishing | 1978 | ISBN-10: 07069 06217 | PDF | 316 pages | 25.7 mb
It is extremely informative and at the same time EXPLOSIVE to say the least. The author, Mr. M. O. Mathai, as Nehru's Special Assistant, was in an exceptional position to first hand see the goings on in the national and international arena. He also admits to a 12 year-long affairs with Nehru's daughter, Indira Gandhi, and the fact that Mr. Nehru was aware of that liaison. Although a kiss-and-tell chapter titled "She" in the book was dropped from publication at the last minute, there is an unverified text floating on the Internet, with credit to Maneka Gandhi, Mrs. Gandhi's younger daughter-in-law. However, there is little of no proof that Mr. Mathai penned those words. For the rest, the author had very little reason, if at all, to publish a scandalous book risking legal ramifications.
The book contains many interesting facts and historic anecdotes. If the mind boggling information contained therein is true, it is unconscionable that the public has been denied access to the facts. Suppression of information only makes the public even more determined. In this electronic age, it is much easier to obtain information and disseminate it to the masses with a simple click. The action of Govt. of India to take such extreme measures-- to prevent circulation of this book-- only supports the author's claims. The reader sees how some able and competent ideologists did not survive the politics to claim their rightful place in running the country. It is an equal shame that early in the emergence of the Republic of India, the corrupt and egotist politicians, who were ill-prepared as administrators, took impulsive, self-serving, near-sighted and ill-advised decisions (or without proper counsel, which often were more for vindictive reasons against their political rivals rather than for the good of the country) that in the process they only caused irreparable damage to India's national security, as well as financial and political viability, not to mention tarnishing her international standing. It took nearly six decades for India to do damage control and to claim her rightful place on the world stage.
This book gives a snap shot of major happenings in the history of India from 1946 through 1959. Mr. Mathai's account of major events is very informative. His candid verbal sketches of a number of key players: Lord Mountabtten, Sardar Patel, Govind Vallabh Pant, Maulana Azad, Sarojini Naidu, Rajendra Parsad, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Morarji Desai, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and others are invaluable. The reader is invaluably benefited by an understanding of the events and actors of a crucial time in Indian history and the country's emergence as a republic. His insights, impressions and reminiscences of the noted key figures of the times are interesting for a generation like mine that grew only hearing those names. Even when he jumps between various characters one does not lose the thread. Whenever pertinent, he links an ongoing discussion with an earlier chapter to sort of jog the reader's memory.
Mr. Mathai's writing is crisp. His style of narration is a combination of being matter-of-factly and funny at the same time. He minces no words. In his recollections, he is both poignant and witty. Mr. Mathai's affection and admiration for Mr. Nehru, and his loyalty comes through and through. Mr. Mathai comes across sincere and perhaps that is another factor that lends credibility to his book.
Contents
1 Nehru and I
2 Attack On Me by the Communists 16
3 Personal Embarrassment 'if a Rebel 21
4 Obscurantists to the Fore 23
5 Mahatma Gandhi 26
6 Lord Moun tbatten and" Freedom at Midnight" 40
7 Earl Mountbatten of Burma 46
8 Churchill, Nehru and India 51
9 Nehru's Meeting with Bernard Shaw 58
10 C. Rajagopalachari 63
11 The Position of the President of India 66
12 Rajendra Prasad and Radhakrishnan 69
13 The Prime Minister and His Secretariat 74
14 The Prime Minister's House 80
15 Use of Air Force Aircraft by the PM 84
16 Rafi Ahmed Kidwai 88
17 Feroze Gandhi 93
18 The National Herald and Allied Papers 97
19 Nehru and the Press 101
20 Nehru's Sensitivity to his Surroundings 106
21 Nehru's Attitude to Money 112
22 G.D. Birla 118
23 Nehru and Alcoholic Drinks 123
21 Sarojini Naidu 126
25 Rajkumari Amrit Kaur 128
26 Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit 133
27 Some Books 143
28 Maulana Abul Kalam Azad 147
29 She 153
30 V.K. Krishna Menon 154
31 V.K. Krishna Menon- II 164
32 Krishna Menon's Vote at the UN on Hungary 172
33 V.K. Krishna Menon-III 175
34 V.K. Krishna Menon-IV 183
35 Was Nehru Arrogant? 191
36 Nehru and the Services 193
37 Nehru and Women 201
38 Nehru and the Socialists 112
39 More on Nehru 216
40 Govind Ballabh Pant 220
41 T.T. Krishnamachari 224
42 Kamaraj 228
43 Lal Bahadur 232
44 Two Weather-Beaten Ministes 237
45 Vallabhbhai Patel 241
46 Indira 248
47 Morarji Desai 255
48 Epiogue 261
49 Postscript 263
APPENDICES 267
INDEX 295
