New series
Flying with a Defenceless Minister
Delhi is hot. Very hot but it is the happening place, for better or
for worse and this week I like to share with you a happening which took
place when I took a sky walk instead of a street walk.
On Saturday July 4 I was traveling on Indian Airlines flight IC 539
from Madras to Delhi and my seat No. was 20 E. Half an hour before the
plane took off a tall, lean man-a familiar figure-dressed in a light green
kurta and a white pyjama with only a shoulder bag accompanied by a lone
Indian Airline ground assistant boarded the flight.
 The
man gently walked past and sat on seat 25A, economy class. I just couldn't
believe it. The man who recently challenged China and created a stir, the
man who leads the Indian nuclear front and the man in charge of Indian
forces today, the socialist fire brand, India's controversial, Defence
Minister George Fernandez. He sat and started to read a book. Red cover.
I overheard an Indian mother-in- law whispering to her British daughter-in-law,
"That's our Defence Minister". I became restless. India's powerful
Defence Minister armed with only a book and a sling bag. No camouflage,
no walking stick, no AK 47 or black cats. Not even first class, just like
any normal citizen.
I couldn't wait any more. I sent him a note through an air hostess.
" 'Honourable sir' I am a journalist from Sri Lanka and I am surprised
and honoured to see the Indian Defence Minister flying like this. May I
have the honour and privilege of meeting you". He immediately replied,
"Thanks, please give me your contact number in Delhi. I will call
you over". I wrote back thanking him, noted my contact number walked
up to and handed over the note.
But I was still not convinced and hoped to see the elite black cats
swarming all over the tarmac, the rest of the passengers asked to stay
back when we landed in new Delhi. He proved me wrong.
George Fernandez got into the Air India bus with all of us. I couldn't
wait anymore. At the airport entry point I walked up to him and said, "Sir
pardon me. But I am shocked, how can you travel like this?" Then he
asked me "Why? What's wrong, why shouldn't I?" I said, "No
sir this can't be". He answered "most people take their positions
to their heads. This is nothing."
Thereafter he asked me about my stay in Delhi and promised to call me
and grant me an appointment.
I am sure George will. If India allows me to vote I will cast my vote
for George Fernandez and scream, "Let George do it" because Fernandez
can. He is real." Indian Airlines is expected to portray the image
of the modern India but sadly it is not happening. I feel that most of
the stewardesses are overworked, overaged and may be overpaid. They hardly
smile and practise tough talk very often. The stewards are better, balding
and kind, many of them must be grounded if the Air Line plans to fly high
with stiff competition coming from the private airlines.
I think the private Airlines in India boast of the most beautiful girls.
They smile, they are polite and they charm you. They get around very sweetly.
I noticed that most passengers were eye balling them anyway.
Mangala's work
Politician turned diplomat Mangala Moonasinghe, Sri Lanka High Commissioner
in India, completes three years in New Delhi. It is clear that Moonasinghe
is doing an excellent job, traveling around India and building a strong
bridge of friendship. Mr. and Ms Moonasinghe hosted a few of us to a simple
'Indiappa' dinner on the day of the Indo-Lanka cricket final.
The guests included Indian journalist and bureau chief of ITN, S.Venkat
Narayan, and his son Subash, Gabia, a Lithuanian television presenter,
W.A.Wijeratne, minister counsellor, and his wife, first secretary Sumit
Nakandala, Press Secretary Dhammika Semasinghe and the newest addition
to the Sri Lanka High Commission in India, Defence Attach attaché
Captain D.W.A.S.Dissanayake, RSP, Sri Lanka Navy, and his wife.
Dissanayake's functions include providing assistance to the many defence
personnel now being trained in India (over 400 in number) and to build
a better rapport with the Indian defence establishment.
The cricket fever is at fever pitch at the embassy, and it was clearly
evident that cricket has brought Sri Lanka and India much closer as the
two countries always play the game in good spirit.
I have been informed by a state media bigwig in Colombo that another
dream of Mangala has become a reality. The tie-up of the Discovery Channel
and Rupavahini. Moonasinghe has worked round the clock to get the agreement
signed with the licence holders in India.
The Samadhis
I toured New Delhi on a rainy Friday and visited some places of interest
which included the 17th century Red Fort in the old Moghul-built part of
the capital, the black stone 'samadhi" of Mahatma Gandhi on the banks
of the river Yamuna and the Indira Gandhi museum in the heart of the city.
One feels really sad and emotional while visiting the Indira Gandhi
museum at No.1, Safdarjung Road where she lived and died.
The same complex also displays the life of her son and successor Rajiv
Gandhi in pictures. It is the place where Ms. Gandhi was shot dead by one
of her bodyguards.
It houses the saree worn by Ms. Gandhi on the day of the assassination,
all her items on her office table as they lay that day, the saree woven
by Jawaharlal Nehru for her wedding day (she was Nehru's only and affectionate
child) and many more pieces of interest.
Rajiv's section includes his pilot wings, cap, letter of resignation
for the Indian Airlines, photographs taken by him on various visits in
India and abroad and a letter written by him requesting his mother to visit
Dehra Dun (in India's north where he did his private schooling).
Sri Lanka figures prominently in both their lives. There is a beautiful
picture of a beaming Sirimavo and Indira, Rajiv and JR and of course a
picture depicting the attempt by Vijithaminu the Lankan Naval rating, on
Rajiv Ghandi's life.
Indira's and Rajiv's thoughts are recorded and well displayed in English
and Hindi.
One comes out wondering what happened to all the Gandhis. All their
lives having tragic ends. I am planning to go there again. I need to absorb
more words of courage.
Mango mania
Now it is mango mania in India tops in Mango production, – nearly 10
million tons a year. This is 64% per cent of world production. India's
mango varieties add to about a 1000. Some hotels organised mango festivals,
some states get up mango meals, some host mango parties. Many restaurants
serve mango milk shakes and the latest at chemists is a mango glucose.
Stop over: Few bill boards near New Delhi's traffic lights read: Abortion,
Rs. 500. Navjivan Clinic, behind AIMS Hospital, open 8 am to 8 pm-cheap
and bold, isn't it? How many people have died, I have not been able to
find out yet.
Stop over 2: The lorry's and trucks in India seem to be very horny,
you will not find any lorry without the message "Horn please ok."
Next: Mind your language at the Indian Institute of Mass communication,
New Delhi, where 24 journalists from 24 countries (including yours truly)
have gathered.
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