During the 1920s and 1930 there was a very controversial politician in Britain called Johnston. Once another notable politician was asked what was the difference between a tragedy and a calamity. The reply was: If Johnston were to be drowned in the Thames, that would be a tragedy. But if he were to come out alive, that would be a calamity.
Once Johnston made an unpleasant statement about the government. The entire media was up against him and for a full week there were devastating attacks on him but he did not respond. A journalist asked him about this and Johnston’s reply was: Just imagine the amount of free publicity I got all last week!
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This humorous touch was not missing in India. In 1951, Rajendra Prasad outwitted Nehru and got himself elected the first President of the Republic though Nehru’s preference was for Rajaji, the Governor-General. Five years later, Nehru preferred Radhakrishnan as President but Rajen Babu again got the better of Nehru and was elected President. Rajen Babu was one of the most selfless freedom fighters and highly respected by Congressmen. After Independence, attitudes started changing, resulting in even a person like him manoeuvring to stay on as President for a second term. The then Editor of Deccan Herald, Pothan Joseph, wrote in his daily column, “Over a cup of tea”: “Rajen Babu was sitting in his presidential suite, eagerly waiting to give his reluctant consent to continue as President.” Readers had a good laugh but a badly hurt Rajen Babu wrote a nasty letter to the Editor.
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Atal Bihari Vajpayee was another politician who regaled audiences with his humorous remarks. During an election meeting in Gujarat, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi told the gathering that she was a daughter of Uttar Pradesh and daughter-in-law of Gujarat and was seeking votes on that basis. Vajpayee later said Mrs. Gandhi had forgotten to say that she was also the mother-in-law of Italy. The audience had a hearty laugh and one journalist later wrote that this humorous remark of Vajpayee had brought the BJP a lot of votes.
source::::G.Dwarakanath in The Hindu…English Daily
Natarajan
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