About Sept 26, 1959, in Sector 20

SS Beniwal

The year was 1959. Chandigarh, the new capital of Punjab, was still at a nascent stage. Many sectors were under development. Sector 20 was one such sector. On being allotted a government quarter in Sector 20-D, I shifted to the new premises in August of the year. Many newly built government quarters in Sector 20-C were still vacant, waiting allotment. Private houses were under construction in Sector 20-A, but most of Sector 20-D was still vacant with the exception of an education complex of schools in one corner. 

A brief session of the Indian National Congress was held on September 26 in Sector 20-D in the open space near the government basic school. The party delegates were accommodated in the vacant quarters of Sector 20-C.  There was not much publicity about the session.

It was Sunday. I walked to the venue of the session in the morning. A spacious ‘pandal’ had been set up near the school and only a few policemen were on duty. Some police officers in civilian clothes were strolling outside, keeping a sharp eye on visitors. There was no restriction for entry into the ‘pandal’.

I got seated on the “durree” behind the delegates. A vast podium was before us. A galaxy of leaders, including Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Jagjiwan Ram, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Sampurna Nand, to mention a few, were seated on the podium. Indira Gandhi was conducting the proceedings.

I was feeling elated at being so near the political giants.  After sometime, an officer ascended the podium and handed over a paper to Pt Nehru. Interrupting the proceedings, he got up, took the mike and announced the assassination of SWRD Bandaranaike, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (Ceylon). A brief silence was observed and a condolence resolution passed.

After the lunch break, as the proceedings were in progress, there was commotion at the gate left of the podium. A man with an application in hand was insisting on meeting Pt Nehru. The policemen on duty were obstructing him. On hearing the noise, the Prime Minister got up and came down the stairs of the podium.  Walking to the gate, he listened to the aggrieved man, received his application and returned to his seat. It was a memorable sight. Pt Nehru, who was straddling the political stage of the world like a colossus, personally came down the party stage to meet a common Indian.

The session continued till dusk. At the end, the leaders started descending and the delegates before me got up and were mingling with dignitaries. I was also moving with them near the leaders. There was no policeman nearby. Outside the gate, just about 3 metres to one side, I saw Pt Nehru and Indira Gandhi in discussion. I could observe from this little distance that Nehruji was addressing Indira Gandhi in an angry tone. She was standing before him with downcast eyes like a child listening to papa Nehru.  Who could then foresee that this frail “gungi gudiya” will transform into Durga in 1971?

It was really a day to remember.