Gulzarilal
Nanda was an Indian politician and economist who served as the Interim Prime
Minister of India twice, following the deaths of Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal
Bahadur Shastri. He was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and a leader of the Indian
National Congress. He was known for his
integrity, humility, and commitment to the welfare of the people.
He
was also a pioneer of labour welfare and social security in India. He worked as
a secretary of the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association for 25 years and
advocated for the rights and interests of the workers. He was also a deputy
chairman of the Planning Commission and a minister of home affairs and external
affairs in various governments,
He
was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, in 1997 for his
contributions to the nation. He died in 1998 at the age of 99. He was a true Gandhian who
preferred a life away from the spotlight and lived by the principles of
simplicity and austerity.
(Gulzarilal
Nanda had a very humble and simple lifestyle. He lived in a rented house in a colony
and did not reveal his identity to the landlord or the neighbors. He only
received a monthly pension of Rs 500, which he used to pay the rent and buy his
necessities. He
did not accept )any government facilities or privileges that he was entitled to
as a former Prime Minister.
One
day, the landlord threw him out of the house for not paying the rent for a few
months. He pleaded with the landlord to give him some more time, but the
landlord was rude and insensitive. The neighbors also tried to intervene, but
they did not know who he was. A journalist who happened to pass by the scene
recognized him and took some photos. He
wrote a news article about his pathetic condition and revealed his identity to
the public.
The
next day, the then Prime Minister and other ministers and officials visited him
and offered him government accommodation and other facilities. They also
apologized to him for his ordeal. However, Gulzarilal Nanda refused their offer
and said that he did not need any such facilities at his old age. He also
forgave the landlord and asked him not to feel guilty. He said that he was
happy with his simple life and did not want any publicity or recognition. He was a true Gandhian who
lived by his principles till the end.
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