MY HERO : SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL

MY HERO : SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL

Friends often ask why this writer admires Sir Winston so much. They ask : is it because of what he said on the eve of India's Independence ?
He said :"Power will go to the hands of rascals, rogues and freebooters. All Indian leaders will be of low calibre and men of straw. They will have sweet tongues and silly hearts. They will fight among themselves for power and India will be lost in political squabbles."
One assures them that that is not right. Sir Winston had these views at a particular juncture of world history. As a democrat, one believes everybody has a right to express his opinion, however unpalatable it might be.
But one also believes Indian leaders are honest and doing their dificult jobs to the best of their abilities. Also black sheep are everywhere, not only in India. They do not count.
One takes one's hat off to Sir Winston because despite being the wholly-solely in charge of conducting the World War II, with the entire Empire's treasury at his feet, he never even thought of misappropriating bullion, silver or priceless historic gems for his personal or his family's benefit. Neither he felt unhappy about taking the prescribed rations along with his ordinary compatriots during the harsh days of the war.
He did not appoint a proxy to manage his ill-gotten wealth, which he never had. Neither he made millions by selling war time metal scrap, which in certain countries is done slyly. Some call it the privileges of the office.
One did not hear him recommending his brood for any cosy jobs, least of all giving them one in his Government. He was not called lovingly Bulldog of the Empire in vain.
Here in India, as a parallel, one remembers Mr Lal Bahadur Shastri, then Prime Minister, earning the same affection from the nation. He observed one day's fast once a week, along with the whole nation, to show solidarity for India's war with Pakistan. At that time United States had stopped shipment of free grains to both starving India and Pakistan, for being quarrelsome bad boys.
After Mr Shastri's demise ... ... ... ?
o0o.