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Dear Mr.
Pant,
I hasten to tender my
humble greetings and congratulations to you on the award of the highest honour in Bharat -
"BHARAT RATNA". You have been a member and colleague of the old Guard of the
Congress and have rendered such valuable service to the country that the award of this
title is just a natural sequence of events. I still remember, as a young boy while I was
in the college decades ago, reading your speeches in the Central Assembly and being
thrilled by them. Such has been your thoroughness and scholarship and oratory.
I may introduce myself as a young friend who was introduced to your goodself by Shri Sri
Prakasa, then Governor of Madras, almost a couple of years ago, when the Prime Minister
and a few colleagues like you had been invited for a special dinner to which I had also
the honour of being invited. I remember the incident because it is nothing very
significant in your scheme of things.
I beg to enclose an academic calendar of my College Campus as also a few brochures
relating to my educational activities at Karaikudi. I am looking forward to the pleasure
and privilege of taking you one day to Karaikudi, 50 miles away from Tiruchirappalli
Junction, and 45 miles away from Tiruchi airport. Besides, there is an airfield within
four miles of Karaikudi though it is not actually functioning, but absolutely o.k. for
landing.
I am sorry to mention here that for the last one year and more I am immobilized to bed
because of multiple-cancer. I am suffering from the attendant pain and agony, though there
is some progress due to the deep X-ray therapy treatment. It is God's will, and I am
meekly bearing His will. I feel consider- ably cheered up when noble elders like our
beloved President Dr. Rajendra Prasad called at my bedside last August when he visited
Madras, and again now when our dear Prime Minister, Panditji has very kindly included a
visit to me on the occasion of his visit to Madras on the 31st January.
With kindest regards and my humble greetings once again,
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