Where could we find those kind of people today?

[Brahmanyan]

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While browsing the internet I stepped into a news item, that took my memory to an incident which happened long back, some time in 1958 or 59. I was returning from Madras to Coimbatore by Nilgiri Express. When the train started from Central two gentlemen rushed to the compartment and got in. It was a third class reserved compartment for sitting. In those days there was no sleeper Compartments. One person was fair and lean, wearing Khadi kurtha, dhothi and a towel over his shoulder and the other was little dark complexioned wearing white shirt, dhothi and a towel over his shoulder. They were allotted seats nearby in the same bench. They were carrying ordinary bags containing their clothes and some documents. They were discussing some politics and the assembly proceedings for some time. The ticket examiner came and when he saw them he respectfully enquired about their welfare and asked whether they would like to upgrade their tickets to travel by first class. The two gentlemen told that it is OK for them to travel by third class.

The fair gentleman turned to me and introduced himself as K.R.Nallasivam, MLA from Chennimalai and the other was N.K.Palaniswami also a MLA ( Communist) from next constituency. He told they would get down at Erode, till then we can adjust and sleep in the available space on the bench.In the meanwhile Sri.Palaniswami climbed up on the luggage rack and spread his towel to sleep. I could not believe at the simplicity and ease with which they moved with others. Later I came to know that Sri K.R.Nallasivam from Kodumudi was an agriculturist and respected Congressman turned staunch Socialist and spent his entire life in the service of people.
He was an MLA for nineteen years from 1952 to 1971 , but did not own any property.
Now please read the news item in the following URL:

The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Erode News : Cheque given to former MLA’s wife

Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

 

[kk4646]

While browsing the internet I stepped into a news item, that took my memory to an incident which happened long back, some time in 1958 or 59. I was returning from Madras to Coimbatore by Nilgiri Express. When the train started from Central two gentlemen rushed into the compartment and got in. It was a third class reserved compartment for sitting. In those days there was no sleeper Compartments. One person was fair and lean, wearing Khadi kurtha, dhothi and a towel over his shoulder and the other was little dark complexioned wearing white shirt, dhothi and a towel over his shoulder. They were allotted seats nearby in the same bench. They were carrying ordinary bags containing their clothes and some documents. They were discussing some politics and the assembly proceedings for some time. The ticket examiner came and when he saw them he respectfully enquired about their welfare and asked whether they would like to upgrade their tickets to travel by first class. The two gentlemen told that it is OK for them to travel by third class.

The fair gentleman turned to me and introduced himself as K.R.Nallasivam, MLA from Chennimalai and the other was N.K.Palaniswami also a MLA ( Communist) from next constituency. He told they would get down at Erode, till then we can adjust and sleep in the available space on the bench.In the meanwhile Sri.Palaniswami climbed up on the luggage rack and spread his towel to sleep. I could not believe at the simplicity and ease with which they moved with others. Later I came to know that Sri K.R.Nallasivam from Kodumudi was an agriculturist and respected Congressman turned staunch Socialist and spent his entire life in the service of people.
He was an MLA for nineteen years from 1952 to 1971 (19 years), but did not own any property.
Now please read the news item in the following URL:

The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Erode News : Cheque given to former MLA’s wife

Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

[h=2]"Where could we find those kind of people today?"[/h]

Not Possible Sir....Hope you know the saying in Tamil ..."Maakkaluku eththa Arasu"...[Govt. will be as the citizens would

be..].. We get the representatives on the basis of "What and How We are.."...


TVK

 

[manoharkumar]

Dear Brahmanyam Sir,

You are very correct. Such days can never come and such people can also be never found in present day. I have read many a incident about Shri.Kamaraj and Shri.Kakkan and few others in the 50's and 60's.

Shri.Kamaraj did not allow the local corporation to install water connection to his house in his home town even though his mother was in the 70's and could not move around to fetch water from the community well. When he died, i read in some magazine,that there was few hundred rupees only in the house he lived. They lived & died by what they preached.

Have also read that the longest reigned CM of WB Shri.Jyoti Basu lived his entire life in Rented house only in Kolkatta.
Cheers.

 

[Naina_Marbus]

I just ran into this article (written by Shobha Warrier ) which justifies the title of your thread.

Excerpts:

K.R. Rajagopalan, born in or around 1911, hailing from Karapatti area in Trichy ( Tamil Nadu), dreamt of becoming a police officer. And when he did become one in1939, he hardly got a chance to wear the uniform. Why? He was mostly entrusted with the task of guarding, in mufti, India’s top dignitaries such as Lord Mountbatten and free India's first President Rajendra Prasad and Prime Minister Nehru.

On completing his officer training, he was posted to Madurai under W F A Hamilton, then superintendent of police. His integrity and sharpshooting skills caught Hamilton's eye. Why? Rajagopalan could shoot with either hand, left as well as right, and that too without taking aim! Whenever there was a shooting competition among police officers, he scored the maximum points!

When Hamilton got transferred from Madurai to Madras, he asked that Rajagopalan accompany him. And when Lord Mountbatten visited Madras just before Independence, Rajagopalan was chosen to be his personal bodyguard, for the few days he stayed in Madras.

After India's Independence, India's first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, paid a visit to Madras, and Rajagopalan was assigned to be his bodyguard.

In the words of Rajagopalan himself:

"One night,when he (Rajendra Prasad) felt uneasy, he asked his staff to find out whether there was anybody who could recite the Ramayana to him. It was well known in Madras police circles that I was a scholar in Sanskrit and they immediately informed his staff about me.

"Soon, I was ushered into his room. Dr Rajendra Prasad wanted to be left alone with me. He asked me, 'Do you know Sanskrit?' I said, 'Yes Sir.' He asked, 'Do you know the Ramayana?' I again said, 'Yes Sir.' I further told him, 'Sir, I know Ramayana only in Sanskrit and not in Hindi.'

"He then told me, 'I feel very uneasy. Please recite something from the Ramayana to me. What do you like in Ramayana?'

"I said, 'I like two things. One, Rama's love for his parents, and the other, love for his brothers.'

"Then, I started reciting the Ramayana to him. After I finished the recital, he asked me to go with him to Delhi. I said, 'Sir, I can't come because my parents are here and very old.' ( emphasis and italics mine). He just smiled. I recited the Ramayana for some more time, and he fell asleep."

Yet, destiny would send Rajagopalan to Delhi.

After working as the personal guard of Rajaji, then chief minister of the Madras presidency, for two years, Rajagopalan was sent to Delhi to serve as one of the body guards of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister. The reason for his transfer was an intelligence report that a gang planned to kill Nehru. Rajagopalan was chosen for his shooting skills. "And I was instructed to shoot any suspicious person at sight, but I didn't have to shoot at anyone."

Rajagopalan worked as Nehru's bodyguard for two years. "Panditji was a lovely man," he recalls. "Very friendly too! I was only one among the many bodyguards he had. So my personal equation with him was not like what I had with Rajaji. After my request for a transfer back to Madras was granted, I went to Nehru and informed him that as my father was very old, I wanted to be with him during his last days. He said, 'Okay, you go to your father.'

"I liked Nehru, but there was nobody quite like Rajagopalachari," "You will not find a person like Rajaji anymore. He was a perfect man. He had absolute faith and confidence in me. I was allowed to be with him even when very important discussions took place. If somebody wanted to talk to him privately, he would say, 'You can talk in front of him. He is a very honest and trustworthy man.'

"I also had the good fortune of travelling with him quite a few times in his own car. When Richard Nixon came to meet and talk to him, I was the only officer who was allowed to stand near him. He knew all the secrets would remain with me."

Rajagopalan stressed that whatever he had heard in his long years in service will go with him to his grave.

Having worked at close quarters with the giants of newly independent India, Rajagopalan refused to be the personal bodyguard for any other politician till his retirement in 1972. He neither wanted to remember the days after Rajaji and Nehru nor comment on anyone who came after Rajaji!

"The leaders of today work only for themselves," is all that he would say. "Let me quote Dr Samuel Johnson: Politics is the last refuge of a scoundrel."

(Does any one know of his whereabouts today? – Naina)

 

[kk4646]

I just ran into this article (written by Shobha Warrier ) which justifies the title of your thread.

Excerpts:

K.R. Rajagopalan, born in or around 1911, hailing from Karapatti area in Trichy ( Tamil Nadu), dreamt of becoming a police officer. And when he did become one in1939, he hardly got a chance to wear the uniform. Why? He was mostly entrusted with the task of guarding, in mufti, India’s top dignitaries such as Lord Mountbatten and free India's first President Rajendra Prasad and Prime Minister Nehru.

On completing his officer training, he was posted to Madurai under W F A Hamilton, then superintendent of police. His integrity and sharpshooting skills caught Hamilton's eye. Why? Rajagopalan could shoot with either hand, left as well as right, and that too without taking aim! Whenever there was a shooting competition among police officers, he scored the maximum points!

When Hamilton got transferred from Madurai to Madras, he asked that Rajagopalan accompany him. And when Lord Mountbatten visited Madras just before Independence, Rajagopalan was chosen to be his personal bodyguard, for the few days he stayed in Madras.

After India's Independence, India's first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, paid a visit to Madras, and Rajagopalan was assigned to be his bodyguard.

In the words of Rajagopalan himself:

"One night,when he (Rajendra Prasad) felt uneasy, he asked his staff to find out whether there was anybody who could recite the Ramayana to him. It was well known in Madras police circles that I was a scholar in Sanskrit and they immediately informed his staff about me.

"Soon, I was ushered into his room. Dr Rajendra Prasad wanted to be left alone with me. He asked me, 'Do you know Sanskrit?' I said, 'Yes Sir.' He asked, 'Do you know the Ramayana?' I again said, 'Yes Sir.' I further told him, 'Sir, I know Ramayana only in Sanskrit and not in Hindi.'

"He then toldme, 'I feel very uneasy. Please recite something from the Ramayana to me. Whatdo you like in Ramayana?'

"I said, 'Ilike two things. One, Rama's love for his parents, and the other, love for hisbrothers.'

"Then, Istarted reciting the Ramayana to him. After I finished the recital, he asked meto go with him to Delhi. I said, 'Sir,I can't come because my parents are here and very old.'( emphasis and italics mine). He just smiled. I recited the Ramayana forsome more time, and he fell asleep."

Yet, destiny wouldsend Rajagopalan to Delhi.

After working asthe personal guard of Rajaji, thenchief minister of the Madras presidency, for two years, Rajagopalan was sent to Delhi to serve as oneof the body guards of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister. Thereason for his transfer was an intelligence report that a gang planned to killNehru. Rajagopalan was chosen for hisshooting skills. "And I was instructed to shoot any suspicious person atsight, but I didn't have to shoot at anyone."

Rajagopalan workedas Nehru's bodyguard for two years. "Panditji was a lovely man," herecalls. "Very friendly too! I wasonly one among the many bodyguards he had. So my personal equation with him was not likewhat I had with Rajaji. After my requestfor a transfer back to Madras was granted, I went to Nehru and informed himthat as my father was very old, I wanted to be with him during his last days.He said, 'Okay, you go to your father.'

"I likedNehru, but there was nobody quite like Rajagopalachari," "You will not find a person like Rajajianymore. He was a perfect man. He had absolute faith and confidence in me. Iwas allowed to be with him even when very important discussions took place. Ifsomebody wanted to talk to him privately, he would say, 'You can talk in frontof him. He is a very honest and trustworthy man.'

"I also hadthe good fortune of travelling with him quite a few times in his own car. WhenRichard Nixon came to meet and talk to him, I was the only officer who wasallowed to stand near him. He knew all the secrets would remain with me."

Rajagopalanstressed that whatever he had heard inhis long years in service will go with him to his grave.

Having worked atclose quarters with the giants of newly independent India, Rajagopalan refusedto be the personal bodyguard for any other politician till his retirement in 1972. He neither wanted to remember the days after Rajaji and Nehru nor comment on anyone who came afterRajaji!

"The leadersof today work only for themselves," is all that he would say. "Let mequote Dr Samuel Johnson: Politics isthe last refuge of a scoundrel."

(Does any one know of his whereaboutstoday? – Naina)

If some one like Sri.Rajagopalan is there nowadays,,,he will write a book "My Days With Rajaji"...reveal all the secrets and

become a multi-milionaire...!! This is the order of the day...!!

TVK

 

[Raji Ram]

...... (Does any one know of his whereabouts today? – Naina)

Dear Sir,

He must have gone to heaven long back. The details about his children are not given in the article!

Probably, some people from his native place may be able to give the whereabouts of his grandchildren!!

 

[Naina_Marbus]

If some one like Sri.Rajagopalan is there nowadays,,,he will write a book "My Days With Rajaji"...reveal all the secrets and

become a multi-milionaire...!! This is the order of the day...!!

TVK

I hope what you wanted to say was ..."another person in a similar position.."

 

[Naina_Marbus]

Dear Sir,

He must have gone to heaven long back. The details about his children are not given in the article! Probably, some people from his native place may be able to give the whereabouts of his grandchildren!!

Maybe, someone in the forum may have some knowledge...

 

[Naina_Marbus]

reveal all the secrets and become a multi-milionaire...!! This is the order of the day...!!

TVK

Here is the conundrum for the day..
If there were such people then, why are they scarce now? Money? Greed?

 

[Raji Ram]

.... If there were such people then, why are they scarce now? Money? Greed?

Greed for money!!

Picture courtesy: Google images.

 

[tbs]

hi
the simplicity is the character.....a person may be very simple in nature...see the present leaders......when they come for vote

in every house/nook and corner...no police/no bandha...when he becames a MLA .....suddenly he gets all police /security

protection....after election...they never mingle with ppl....position makes a man bad...in reality the man is not so bad...now a days

even a extended family of politicians minting money....see the story of son in law of india....

 

[amala]

Here is the conundrum for the day..
If there were such people then, why are they scarce now? Money? Greed?

Very good question. Its not only just greed. Life is not a simple as before I'm afraid. Its a lot more complicated...

 

[Brahmanyan]

Here is the conundrum for the day..
If there were such people then, why are they scarce now? Money? Greed?

Dear Sri "Naina_Marbus",

That is a nice piece of information about Sri Rajagopalan. I am afraid,those days are gone for ever.
When we look around us today we find a different world, where we are immersed in self deceit of prosperity based on money and greed. Our ruling elite have changed the rules of morality in Governance.It started with the emergency action of the lady who scrapped the written assurances given to the erstwhile rulers of States at the time of accession with one stroke. The Rulers were made to beg and live at the mercy of new Political masters.Honesty and truth eroded fast and Politics of service was changed gradually a money making venture. In the name of reservations to gain power, people were divided into various categories of SCs, STs,Minorities, backwards of several denominations of vote banks beyond recognition. The disease of Nepotism and corruption which started at the top spread all over the body of Governance so fast, today we could not find a cure for this.

The common man is mocked at as "mango man in the banana republic" for the fault of voting these people to power. Freedom that we got by the sacrifices of thousands of freedom fighters is reduced to mockery of "banana Republic". Now the poor voter is made to stand in the queue for BPL freebees at the mercy of the masters whom he had elected.

Answer. Answer for this is in the hands of the "mango man" only. Let him wake-up to reality and eliminate all these selfish and corrupt people by using his "brahmaastra" called vote in the next elections.


Regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

 

[manoharkumar]

If some one like Sri.Rajagopalan is there nowadays,,,he will write a book "My Days With Rajaji"...reveal all the secrets and

become a multi-milionaire...!!

Corectly said Sir.Classic example is of Shri.M.O.Mathai who was personal assistant or secretary to Shri.JN and wrote all that happenned behind the walls and screens and created such a controversy!!! People like RG or for that matter people of yester years can never be found in the present days.

Cheers.

 

[Raji Ram]

,,,he will write a book "My Days With Rajaji"...reveal all the secrets and become a multi-milionaire...!! ...

அடுத்தாத்து ரகசியம் எல்லோருக்கும் அல்வாதானே!! :gossip:

( aduththAththu ragasiyam ellOrukkum alvAthAnE? )

 

[Raji Ram]

The 'Crorepati' politicians of today! Can we ever find some one like Kamaraj or Jyotibasu?


"The few names of the Swiss bank Account holders, which are displayed below include names of prominent

public figures and people from the corporate world:

Prabodh Mehta[ 28,000 crore], Chintan Gandhi[ 1956 cr.], Arun Mehta [2500 cr.],Ramdev Pasvan[3500 cr.],

Neara Radiya[2,89,990 cr.], Rajeev Gandhi[1,98,000 cr.], Naresh Goyal[1,45,600 cr.],

Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin [10,500 cr.], Manoj Dhupelia[9,850 cr.], A Raja[7,800 cr.], Harshad Mehta[1,35,800 cr.],

S.S.Palanimanickam[4,800 cr.], Ketan Parekh[8,200 cr], Paban Singh[3,908 cr.], Rendezvous Sports World[29,800 cr..],

H.D.Kumaraswamy[14,500 cr.], C.P.Krishnan Nair[4,520 cr.], Lalu Prasad Yadav[29,800 cr],

Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia[9,000 cr.], Kalanidhimaran[15,000 cr.], Karunanidhi[35,000 cr.], Sarath Pawar[28,000 cr.],

Suresh Kalmadi[5,900 cr.], Chidambaram[32,000 cr.], Raj Foundation[1,89,008 cr.], Urvashi Foundation[2,89,754 cr.],

Ambrunova Trust[17,658 cr.], Arun Kochar[15,450 cr.], Prabodh Mehta[1,480 cr.] ........."


Source: Black money Indian account holders in Swiss Bank- 29 names ...

 

[nsmkrish]

I followed the link on the article on Mr. KR Rajagopalan which is there on Rediff and I found that P. Srinivasan has posted a reply. Please follow the link in the article #5 and you can view the replies and comments.

 

[prasad1]

Dear Sri "Naina_Marbus",

That is a nice piece of information about Sri Rajagopalan. I am afraid,those days are gone for ever.
When we look around us today we find a different world, where we are immersed in self deceit of prosperity based on money and greed. Our ruling elite have changed the rules of morality in Governance.It started with the emergency action of the lady who scrapped the written assurances given to the erstwhile rulers of States at the time of accession with one stroke. The Rulers were made to beg and live at the mercy of new Political masters.Honesty and truth eroded fast and Politics of service was changed gradually a money making venture. In the name of reservations to gain power, people were divided into various categories of SCs, STs,Minorities, backwards of several denominations of vote banks beyond recognition. The disease of Nepotism and corruption which started at the top spread all over the body of Governance so fast, today we could not find a cure for this.

The common man is mocked at as "mango man in the banana republic" for the fault of voting these people to power. Freedom that we got by the sacrifices of thousands of freedom fighters is reduced to mockery of "banana Republic". Now the poor voter is made to stand in the queue for BPL freebees at the mercy of the masters whom he had elected.

Answer. Answer for this is in the hands of the "mango man" only. Let him wake-up to reality and eliminate all these selfish and corrupt people by using his "brahmaastra" called vote in the next elections.


Regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

Very good observation.

 

[prasad1]

Mrs Raji wrote:

He must have gone to heaven long back.

Maybe, someone in the forum may have some knowledge...

Sorry, last time I was in heaven, I did not see him there, may be he was visiting different part. LOL
Mr. Naina, I could not help it, Your comment, in context of Mrs. Raji's first sentence.

 

[Naina_Marbus]

....
Sorry, last time I was in heaven, I did not see him there, may be he was visiting different part. LOL
Mr. Naina, I could not help it, Your comment, in context of Mrs. Raji's first sentence.

Jokes apart, note that I ended my sentence with not just a period but a series of dots.... the expectation was that even if he was no more, some relatives or friends or even someone from Trichy region who may have been aware of Sri Rajagoplan could come forward to fill up the blanks in the biographic sketch.

P.S. We should not be joking about someone who could indeed serve as a role model for the coming generations. Joking may be okay in western cultures, but we in India certainly want to maintain our Eastern perspectives on showing respect to a honourable person.

 

[prasad1]

Jokes apart, note that I ended my sentence with not just a period but a series of dots.... the expectation was that even if he was no more, some relatives or friends or even someone from Trichy region who may have been aware of Sri Rajagoplan could come forward to fill up the blanks in the biographic sketch.

P.S. We should not be joking about someone who could indeed serve as a role model for the coming generations. Joking may be okay in western cultures, but we in India certainly want to maintain our Eastern perspectives on showing respect to a honourable person.

Sir Indians have great sense of humor, may be TB's are breed apart.
The joke was not on Mr. Rajagopalan, it was on you.
Your response to Mrs. Raji's comment was hilarious.

in India certainly want to maintain our Eastern perspectives on showing respect to a honourable person.

I did not see your indignation, when Gandhiji was vilified in this site. So you have a selective memory or selective view who is respectable.

 

[Naina_Marbus]

…I did not see your indignation, when Gandhijiwas vilified in this site. So you have a selective memory or selective view whois respectable.

I visit forum in spurts, and I don’t visit every thread or post. And there are too many trolls to boot, and that includes you. If I had seen a vilification, I would certainly have commented.

..And Indians have great sense ofhumour..

Says who? The one guy who has absolutely no sense of humour? One Who is always singing a dirge?

 

[prasad1]

I visit forum in spurts, and I don’t visit every thread or post. And there are too many trolls to boot, and that includes you. If I had seen a vilification, I would certainly have commented.
Says who? The one guy who has absolutely no sense of humour? One Who is always singing a dirge?

Sir you proved that English is a second language to you, when you did not understand my joke. Why do you have to prove it again.
The word dirge means:
1. Music
a. A funeral hymn or lament.
b. A slow, mournful musical composition.
2. A mournful or elegiac poem or other literary work.
3. Roman Catholic Church The Office of the Dead.

Show me one post of mine where I am singing.
So you learned a new word trol, probably from my post, and quickly wanted to use it.
I do write in this forum, and sometimes critical of some opinion expressed. I see that you have the two jalara accompanying your post, they too come because of me. They actually may not agree with you, but they follow me to oppose me. You can see them in every thread I post. So may be you are that dirge.

 

[renuka]

I see that you have the two jalara accompanying your post, they too come because of me. They actually may not agree with you, but they follow me to oppose me. You can see them in every thread I post.

LOL! Everywhere that Mary went, Mary went, Mary went..
Everywhere that Mary went..the lamb was sure to go.


[video=youtube_share;u_K9hFxSvDM]http://youtu.be/u_K9hFxSvDM[/video]

 

[ozone]

I see that you have the two jalara accompanying your post, they too come because of me. They actually may not agree with you, but they follow me to oppose me. You can see them in every thread I post. So may be you are that dirge.

Should I be defending what I do here that is absolutely permissible and of only my concern.

You have a problem? Should I tell you, you need to fix it yourself?
You seem to have remedy for everyone even for problems that dont exist. So, I dont have to tell you what to do or where to look around ...