The Hindu : On Rajaji

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 30, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

On Rajaji

Sir, — In 1958, Jawaharlal Nehru entered into an agreement with Pakistan on some outstanding issues between the two countries, which, among other things, involved the cession of Berubari to Pakistan. When the matter came up before Parliament for ratification in 1960, Rajaji opposed it. I found it difficult to understand his opposition, and wrote to him asking when once the Prime Minister had entered into an international agreement, how could he let him down by opposing ratification?

Within 48 hours, he replied that while he was not for repudiating a promise, international negotiations entered into by the executive heads of Governments are always subject to ratification, and that ratification would be meaningless if it must automatically follow. Rajaji's letter with some corrections in his own hand is one of my priceless possessions.

S. Narayanan,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — In the late 1960s, my father wrote to Rajaji, asking him to clarify a doubt he had on a particular sloka in the Gita. He received a prompt reply, written in Rajaji's own hand and on the same paper on which my father had written.

V.V.L.N. Sastry,
Kakinada, A.P.

Chennai

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