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My Experience with Three Governors – Part II
This is Part - II of Santhanam's article. After reading this, you can read Part - III which is also published in this issue. The first part appeared in the last issue (No. 66 - October 2021). You can read it by clicking here. - Parthasarathy
Padinjarethalakal Cherian Alexander was India’s High Commissioner in the U.K.when he was appointed as Governor of Tamil Nadu. He landed in Chennai on 17th January 1988 and was sworn in the same day. He had called me from London three days earlier and told me about his programme. Apart from discussing the arrangements to be made for the swearing-in, he also told me that he wanted to host a High Tea on 18th evening and wanted the important persons in the city to be invited. He had started his career as Sub-Collector, Tuticorin, in 1950-51 before he went to the Kerala cadre at the time of reorganisation of States. He knew a number of senior officers and gave detailed instructions about who he would like to meet at the party. K. Venkataramanan, a State Civil Service officer, who was promoted to the IAS later, was Comptroller of Raj Bhavan household and my Deputy Secretary. Both he and I got busy drawing up the list of invitees and the menu, and got Alexander’s approval. There were nearly 250 guests including ministers, judges, senior officials and the elite of the city drawn from the fields of industry and culture. The tea party was a big success and Alexander complimented me and Venkataramanan generously for the strenuous efforts we had put in within three days.
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When I joined as Secretary to Governor in December 1987, Kausalya was in the family way. The baby was due in the last week of April. I was hoping that the light work as Secretary to the Governor would enable me to spend more time with my family. MGR’s death and the subsequent developments put paid to all my hopes. Once President’s Rule was imposed, the workload increased significantly. My mother-in-law was seriously ill. She was staying with us while being treated at Cancer Institute. I had to take her to the hospital quite often. It was a very difficult period for all of us. Kausalya was naturally very unhappy that I hardly spent any time with her when she needed my company the most. Both of us called on the Governor and his wife, Ackama, a gracious and affectionate lady. They were aware of Kausalya’s condition and were very sympathetic. But Alexander was clear that there was no question of my taking long leave. He told me to get some help to look after Kausalya. Fortutiously, Varalakshmi came home one day to meet us and offered to look after Kausalya. She was of great help at that time. Radhika was born on 24th April bringing a lot of joy and cheer in our lives. Ackama Alexander used to enquire regularly about Kausalya’s health. She even presented our baby with a small gold ring. Varalakshmi, who had initially come to assist Kausalya, stayed on full time as Radhika’s ayah and later became our cook. She “retired” just two years ago after being with us for 30 long years.
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Two or three months after taking charge, Alexander started touring the districts. He met with local leaders at the district level, with Collectors and other district officials, and participated in functions like the inauguration of completed projects. I accompanied him on all these visits. At the functions, the organisers used to ask college professors to translate the Governor’s speech. On our return to Raj Bhavan after a couple of visits, Alexander, who could follow Tamil well, told me that he was not happy with the translation. I gave him my views on what mistakes the translators were committing. The day before we left for our next tour, he said, “Why don’t you translate my speeches?” I was taken aback and told him that I had never done it and I wouldn’t like to embarrass him with my mistakes. He said, “You try. In any case it will be better than the translations we have had so far”. I was initially nervous but after a couple of sentences, I gained confidence. I didn’t find it difficult because I had listened to hundreds of speeches by Ministers and public representatives over the years and I had myself made many speeches as Collector and as Registrar of Cooperative Societies. The advantage that I had was that I was familiar with whatever the Governor spoke. On our return, Alexander complimented me on my translation and told the Chief Secretary and Advisers in my presence that I did a very good job.
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Alexander and Ackama were an ideal couple. They complemented each other and got along very well. They were excellent hosts and put their guests totally at ease. Alexander would make it a point to talk to each and every guest, whatever their status or age. He was also very diplomatic and never uttered a wrong word to anybody - not surprising for someone who had just had a stint in diplomacy. Even at Independence and Republic Day receptions, which a large number of people would attend, he would go around and meet as many people as possible. He was a well-read man with a particular interest in history. He was also a very good orator and preferred to speak ex tempore at public meetings. Unlike Khurana, who wanted lengthy drafts of his speeches, Alexander only wanted some material that was relevant to the subject to be given to him. He would generally pick up three or four points and elaborate on them. Needless to say, I found that a great blessing.