Reader’s Corner: How a 90-year-old Partition survivor’s wish was fulfilled by PM Modi

My 90-year-old aunt, Uma Sachdev, rang me up from New Delhi to say that she wanted to meet Prime Minister Modi to present two books. One was Blood and Tears, a personal account by my late uncle, Colonel Hari Krishan Sachdeva, of his traumatic train journey during the Partition. The other was Shri Krishna-Arjun Samvad, with my uncle’s reflections.

She had gone to the Prime Minister’s residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, but the security guards would not let her in. Insistent on meeting him personally, she asked me to write a letter to the Prime Minister. Unable to dissuade her, I did so, narrating her wish.

A few days later, I received a call from the Prime Minister’s Office informing me that he would like to meet Mrs Sachdeva, and that I should accompany her.

On the day of the appointment, I flew to Delhi and escorted my aunt to the Prime Minister’s residence. I was deeply touched by the manner in which the Prime Minister received her and how patiently he spent 20 minutes talking about our family and the books authored by my late uncle.

The accompanying pictures, and the personal letter he later wrote to my aunt after the visit, convey the rest of the story. A few months after her great desire was fulfilled, my aunt passed away peacefully.

(The writer is the former Army Chief of India)

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