Let children play -- A real story

Rana Siddiqui Zaman | NT

Bengaluru: Once upon a time, India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was going to inspect his new office near a public park in New Delhi.

As he reached his palatial office, he saw from its window that many children were making noise as they were climbing up a tree and plucking fruits in that park.

Their joy of catching one thrown down by children on the tree, knew no bound. They were chirpy and laughing. Thaw whole area was full of their pitter-patter.

Nehru jee asked his secretary, “Who are these children”.

He answered, “They come from nearby houses, sir.”

The secretary got a bit afraid of his question. He thought their noise will disturb the PM. So next day, he scared away all the children, and warned them that if they would ever be seen on the ground playing, they would be punished.

Next time, when Nehru came to that office, he felt a pin-drop silence in the area. He looked out from the window and found no children around who were making noise that day.

Nehru jee called out his secretary and asked, “There is so much silence here. No children making noises. Who has done this wonder?” The secretary said with a pride, “I, Sir! I scared them away and warned them never to come again and disturb you while you are in the office!” Nehru nearly shouted at him, angrily.

“How dare you do this? Did I ask you to threaten them away? Children are children; they will play and make noise. Will we do it at this age? Go immediately and bring them all within an hour’s time!”

The secretary ran with his feet over his head. Within an hour, Nehru overheard the chitter-chatter of children. He saw them running, climbing the tree, plucking fruits and laughing away to the hilt from his window.

He smiled and started to do his work amid the chirp. We all know Nehru jee loved children very much. No wonder, his birthday November 14 is celebrated as Children’s’ Day and he is called Chacha Nehru by the children of India.

This is a true incident, and it has found a place in several fun/moral story books recommended in Indian schools.