The Story of a Visionary

A few years after India's independence, the country's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, fondly known as 'Chacha Nehru,' visited a small village...

- Kusum Agarwal

The news of Nehru's visit spread, and everyone eagerly prepared to welcome him. The children were especially excited that their beloved Chacha Nehru was coming to meet them.

One little girl in the village, Mala, was particularly eager to meet him.

She told her mother, "Ma, I want to give Chacha Nehru a garland of flowers and show him my books."

Mala's father was a labourer. She loved studying, though she didn't have many books, but the few she had, she treasured greatly.

On the day of the event, Nehru ji arrived in the village. People lined up to greet him, and the children rushed forward to catch a glimpse of him. Mala, too, made her way through the crowd but struggled to get close. Just as she began to lose hope, Nehru ji noticed the bundle of books she held tightly in her small hands.

"Wait! Let that girl come to me," he instructed his security personnel.

Nervous but thrilled, Mala slowly approached Nehru ji. Trembling with joy, she placed the garland around his neck.

Nehru ji smiled warmly, stroked her head, and asked, "Why do you have these books, dear?"

In a soft voice, Mala replied, "Chacha Nehru, I love reading, but I don't have many books. I brought these to show you."

Nehru ji was silent for a moment. Then, with a gentle smile, he said, "Your passion for studies is the future of this country. I'm certain you will become a great scholar one day."