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"Flamboyant Mountbatten was the last Viceroy and the first British Governor General of India .
Wavell was literally removed by Churchill - who did not like him.
Mountbatten was Churchill's choice.He did not want to stay on in India & his nephew Prince Philip's wedding with Elizabeth came as a heaven sent opportunity for him to return to England & rejoin British Navy.
A panel was prepared by Nehru.Although Patel's name was at the top, Nehru ensured that he does not become the First Governor General.Nehru hated Patel's guts.Patel was a strategist & had been telling Nehru about the impending dangers to India.The latter was in his own world dreaming of becoming world's best statesman & champion in the arena of international peace.Alas, this was not to be so !
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (Raja Ji) had come in close contact with Gandhi Ji. In fact Gandhi Ji used to describe him as 'Keeper of his conscience'.it was Raja Ji who was maintaining a balance between Gandhi,Nehru & Patel. Raja Ji had a flourishing legal practice.He had left it & had devoted himself to INC.He was an astute statesman,politician & a brilliant scholar.He possessed extra ordinary vision.
He took over as the First & the Last Governor General of India.He served from 1948 till 1950.
Before approval of the Draft Consitution by the Constituent Assembly in Nov 49, Raja Ji had asked for the Draft Constitution to be presented to him for his perusal.
He went through the voluminous document & called for a meeting of all senior Politicians. Ambedkar -the Chairman of the Draft Constitution Committee along with his Team were also called.
Raja Ji said, 'The Draft is a marvel.It has been written extremely well ,& obviously, a lot of hard work has gone into it.However,I have an observation to make.I wonder if a common man of our country ,who has remained a slave to foreign powers for hundreds of years,understands & appreciates his primary responsibilities & roles towards parliamentary democracy.I, therefore, feel that you all may like to sit together, & perhaps, insert certain checks & balances in the body of the draft.This would ensure some controls for a decade or so & after that ,we may adopt the Constitution in it's full form.Also,you may consider laying down qualifications for people seeking peoples' representatives' roles in Parliament & Legislative Assemblies.We must adopt the Constitution with no delay'.
No one agreed to him.The 'Dhotiwalas' were euphoric & ecstatic about the newly acquired freedom.There was no vision & perspective.
I wonder, if India even after 67 years has been able to define her Vision,Aims & Objectives !
Raja Ji later left Congress & raised Swatantra Party.
Seldom one comes across a person of such intellect,brilliance,scholarly knowledge,demeanour,character & integrity.
Rightly he was recipient of India's first BHARAT RATNA."
( To Be Wrapped up in Next Part)
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