Three unforgettables in Austria

Vol. 6- Issue 6 - Sept 2012

MANDARIN MATTERS

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Three unforgettables in Austria

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi mentioned three matters which were of special concern to her and which she wanted me to keep in mind while in Austria

Before going to Vienna in May 1980, to take up my new appointment as Ambassador to Austria, I had made the customary call on Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Without spending much time on formalities, the Prime Minister said that while the different ministries would be briefing me, she wanted to mention three matters which were of special concern to her. First, she mentioned that Miraben, a lifelong trusted disciple of Gandhiji, had left India after his assassination in 1948 and settled down in Austria. The Prime Minister asked me to extend all possible assistance especially in her health-related problems. Second, the widow of Subhash Chandra Bose, an Austrian lady, was also living there. We wished to keep contact with her and also extend courtesies and if necessary help to her as and when required, but the Bose family had not favoured this as they had not fully recognised her status as Netaji’s spouse. The Prime Minister expressed the wish that I should discreetly keep contact with her. Third, she referred to Bruno Kreisky, the Chancellor of Austria. The Nehru family had very friendly contacts with him, but some misunderstanding had taken place during the Emergency in 1975. Since I would be meeting him, the Prime Minister.....READMORE