Published at: Counter Currents
By: Ravi Nitesh
"Please come, I was waiting for you only, and it is our fortune that
we get a chance to host you. I think I will talk in Punjabi rather than english
with you as then we will feel more happy and comfortable." Prof. G. K. Chadha said
with a gesture while receiving our guest (who had come from Lahore,Pakistan) of
Aman Chaupal.
It was the first and the
only interaction that I had with him. We were in his university, South Asian
University, in July 2013 for an event named Aman Chaupal, (an initiative of
Aaghaz-e-Dosti for Indo-Pak friendship) and though we had not taken an appointment
for a meeting with him, but he agreed to meet us the moment he got to know
about it. We were in his office lounge after some time. He started talking with
the guest Ms. Saeeda Diep and all of us in Punjabi. He never made us feel that
we are talking in any kind of official conversation. In the conversation that
went for approximately an hour, he shared many of his personal experiences and
his vision.
He talked about the
concept of South Asian University and its role in fostering relations and
strengthening P2P (people to people) bond. He had also talked about the present
situation of India and Pakistan, the educational patterns, the brain drop
problem in these countries and shared some old memories. He favored educational
exchanges on university level between these countries and told that how he made
effort for this during his tenure as a Vice Chancellor of Jawahar Lal
University when he travelled to few universities in Pakistan. He had also
expressed his grief over the restricted visa issues that both countries have.
We learnt that he would read Pakistani newspapers on a regular basis.
Pic by Ravi Nitesh: File photo of Prof. Chadha with Saeeda Diep (Chairperson, IPSS, Lahore)
While i was certainly
impressed by his intellect and thoughts, I was moved to see that he went
emotional and even became tearful while narrating some incidents and memories.
I was shocked to hear one of his experience that pertained to the partition
time. He recalled:
'My family had migrated during the partition. I saw deaths of my
own people, of my father and other relatives. They were killed by our own
servants. My other relatives always had contempt that how could our own
servants kill our relatives. But frankly speaking, I could understand their
anger, I know the truth was that we, as the ruling class, had exploited
them."
His words remain in my
mind and he got a place in my heart, though he probably did not know the fact
that I was observing his words and expressions so carefully.
Professor Chaddha is no
more, but his teachings and memories are still exists.
It was the morning of 1st
March, when Professor Chaddha left this world. His sudden demise came as shock
for many who knew him. Just last night, he was fit and fine and attended a
conference with students of university.
He was working in the
capacity of President of South Asian University at New Delhi. This university
has students and faculties from all SAARC countries. Before joining South Asian
University, Professor Chaddha was with Jawahar Lal Nehru University in the
capacity of Vice Chancellor and Professor Emiretus. He was a man with great
academic excellence as well as known for his down to earth thinking and
behavior. He also had served as member of Prime Minister's economic advisory
council of Govt of India. He was 74 years old and had completed his doctorate
of research from Punjab University in economics. With his Phd at Punjab
University, probably he was the only student whose thesis was specially
recommended by external examiners to be published as book and on this
recommendation university published the book at its own cost.
He was a man who always
talked for Indo-Pak peace and had organized and participated in many
discussions on the issue. He will always remain in memory of all of us who are
working for Indo-pak Peace, in the memory of his students and I believe in the
memory of all who ever got a chance to know him. And I believe that this memory
will inspire us all to foster bonds of peace and love.
---ravinitesh@gmail.com
