Today, Jyotiraditya, my son, told me out of the blue, "Amma, did you know today is Chacha Nehru's birthday? So, in school, there were programs. We all got chocolates too. I think I like Chacha Nehru but I wish he had send us some other chocolates, not Perk."
I couldnt help laughing out aloud. Trust my innocent little boy to say something so original about one of the world's most loved Statesmen! I told Adi that Chacha Nehru 's real name is Jawaharlal Nehru and he was the first Prime Minister of Independent India, which meant that he had to look after the welfare of the whole country.
So, Adi said, "The whole of India was his office?"
Hmmm, I said, "Not exactly but he had many big problems to solve for India. Though he was very busy and had tons of work, he loved kids. He used to try and spend time talking to kids. I've also read in a book that he always replied to kids who wrote to him personally. But I don't know how true that is."
"Amma, I'd like to see Chacha Nehru," says Adi, totally wide eyed and interested.
"I will show you some of his pictures and we can visit his house that he had in Delhi."
Adi was truly impressed. "Wow, he has a house in Delhi."
I wanted to say its a palatial mansion but I thought I'll keep it simple for Adi and let him delight in seeing it for sure.
"Tell you what, we have a deal. We will all go and check out his house."
Adi had another brilliant idea. "If I like the house, do you think we can stay there for some days?"
Ooops! I said, "Not really Adi. Because his house is like a memorial. People come to see how he lived, what he was like as a person and lots of kids come there too, just like you. So, its not a private house for us to go and stay in. He lived for the country so now every one gets a chance to show respect and to see how he lived. That doesnt mean we all have the right to stay there."
"I think I really like Chacha Nehru. But next time, I want to tell him to send us some other chocolates on his birthday. Not Perk. I mean, who even like Perk these days? Maybe he doesn't know that because he is old. What do you think amma?"
I didnt know what to think but I said in my mind, "Chacha Nehru, my son really likes you. So please bear with the Perk complaint and bear with him."
I am sure Chacha Nehru undestands:)
I couldnt help laughing out aloud. Trust my innocent little boy to say something so original about one of the world's most loved Statesmen! I told Adi that Chacha Nehru 's real name is Jawaharlal Nehru and he was the first Prime Minister of Independent India, which meant that he had to look after the welfare of the whole country.
So, Adi said, "The whole of India was his office?"
Hmmm, I said, "Not exactly but he had many big problems to solve for India. Though he was very busy and had tons of work, he loved kids. He used to try and spend time talking to kids. I've also read in a book that he always replied to kids who wrote to him personally. But I don't know how true that is."
"Amma, I'd like to see Chacha Nehru," says Adi, totally wide eyed and interested.
"I will show you some of his pictures and we can visit his house that he had in Delhi."
Adi was truly impressed. "Wow, he has a house in Delhi."
I wanted to say its a palatial mansion but I thought I'll keep it simple for Adi and let him delight in seeing it for sure.
"Tell you what, we have a deal. We will all go and check out his house."
Adi had another brilliant idea. "If I like the house, do you think we can stay there for some days?"
Ooops! I said, "Not really Adi. Because his house is like a memorial. People come to see how he lived, what he was like as a person and lots of kids come there too, just like you. So, its not a private house for us to go and stay in. He lived for the country so now every one gets a chance to show respect and to see how he lived. That doesnt mean we all have the right to stay there."
"I think I really like Chacha Nehru. But next time, I want to tell him to send us some other chocolates on his birthday. Not Perk. I mean, who even like Perk these days? Maybe he doesn't know that because he is old. What do you think amma?"
I didnt know what to think but I said in my mind, "Chacha Nehru, my son really likes you. So please bear with the Perk complaint and bear with him."
I am sure Chacha Nehru undestands:)
Comments
how old is he?