Shahnaz Husain shares her memories spent with the leader
All my life I will love and treasure the Indira Gandhi I knew as a very special person — the woman of steel, with the power of an emperor and a heart of gold. Memories come racing back at lightning speed.
The start of an affair
It was Teen Murti where Indira Gandhi spent 16 years of her life as hostess to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. It was here that I met her for the first time when my father and I were the house guests of Pandit Nehru. The day we were leaving, I saw Indira Gandhi — a vision in a white sari, with an orange border.
Over the years, I saw her off and on, when she could make the time.
She speaks her heart out...
I often asked her opinion on various issues. Once I asked her why she never gave a proper interview. She thought for a second and said, “You go ahead and do an interview.” Within 24 hours, I had two excellent interviews — one on her personal charisma, on working women making good mothers, on sati and the other on a whole gamut of socio-political questions. Her answers were crisp and to the point.
True to her word
She had formally accepted to be chief guest at my daughter’s wedding, but there was a call from Willingdon Crescent to say that she may not make it from jail. luckily there was a flaw in her arrest orders and she suddenly did make it. I will never forget her fabulous electrifying arrival.
The inner truth
She had the rare quality of handling different national and international issues, a million other problems and still be caring and concerned. Once, she suddenly asked me, “How is your throatIJ What did the doctors in Bombay (present-day Mumbai) sayIJ” I was surprised that she remembered details about my health.
The inspiration
Once I received a note from her saying, “Can I have that pink cream that I used. I have either misplaced it, or you forgot to give it to me. I am leaving for electioneering in the South…” I promptly sent her our sandalwood protective cream Shabase. It became a favourite with her. I created Shamoist for her. When I told her what I had created for her had become an international hot-seller, she laughed and said, “Then you owe me royalty!”