How to Understand China- BY V.V. PARANJAPE
"...Nehru had put me in charge of the banquet arrangements, and it was decided to have a proper Chinese banquet with nearly fifteen courses. Since the Chinese guests were not teetotallers, t thought it would be appropriate to serve liquor, but the Indian government practice forbade it and Prime Minister Nehru himself disapproved of it. The then Indian Ambassador Raghavan did not dare raise the subject with the Prime Minister. However Mrs. Indira Gandhi agreed with me that alcohol should be served, and Nehru had such a soft corner for his daughter that it meant hall the battle was won! Through a very delicate manoeuvre, we got him to agree to serve drinks-but only mild ones like sherry. So, we sewed Chinese Yellow wine at all tables. ..."
BLOGGER'S VIEWS
*ALL THE ALCOHOL IN THE WORLD COULD NOT SAVE INDIA BEING INVADED BY CHINA?
*I greatly appreciate Nehru's reluctance to serve alcohol in banquets.
