My historic moments with President Giani Zail Singh
The year was 1987. The Free Press Journal, Mumbai was celebrating its Golden Jubilee and a set of Year long events was planned to mark the occasion.
The main event was chaired by none other than the then President Giani Zail Singh. I was a small cog in the preparatory committee as I, like many others had started my journalistic career with the great institution called FPJ. My mentor and guide Harish Bhanot had put in a word to Virendra Kapoor the then FPJ editor and I joined as a proof reader in 1983. 1n 1986 I joined the Indian Express.
Bhanot Saheb and Giani ji shared a long and friendly relationship. I knew Giani ji from my days as a student leader at Punjab University, Chandigarh in early 70s when Giani ji was Chief Minister of Punjab.
So when Giani ji came for the FPJ function it was a sort of reunion. Giani ji was down to earth person and was much endowed with skills of narration and elrphantine memory..
After the main function we all were invited over dinner at a city five Star hotel. I along with Bhanot uncle and Virendra Kapoor reached a bit early and occupied a big table. My editor at the Indian Express Hari Jaising also joined a little later. After some time Giani ji also arrived with his trusted aide Tarlochan Singh in tow.
After exchanging pleasantries with members of the August gathering, Gianiji surprised everyone when he chose to take a seat at our table..it was a great honour for all of us.
For next one and half hour over dinner, Giani ji touched upon various topics including Emergency, Opposition Blue Star, Indira Gandhi's assassination, anointing of Rajiv Gandhi as PM, his meetings with foreign Heads of State and regaled us with his wit and wisdom To top it all, most of the Conversation was in Punjabi and we all at the table were at ease with it.
For a young reporter like it was mind boggling to get inside information and that too from the Horse's mouth. After the Conversation was over I told Gianiji that how unlucky I was for not carrying a tape recorder that evening. " Kaka tera taan dimaag hi tape recorder hai," Gianiji smiled and patted my head. And it proved a blessing in disguise for me.
During the next days I wrote every thing using my memory..I just wrote it issue by issue like...Gianiji on Emergency, Gianiji on Indira Gandhi, Gianiji on.....and so on..
I submitted the script to my Editor Hari Jaising who too was surprised to find that there were no factual errors in the copy.
The coming Sunday a full page write up was carried under the headline '--Thus Spake Giani ji.
Really a memorable experience.
July 17, 2020
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Baljeet Parmar , Mumbai, Eminent Journalist and Author
baljeetp28@gmail.com
Phone No. : +91-9870131868
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