The Hindu : A song and a gift

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 29, 2003

International

International

A song and a gift

Berlin May 28. The German children of the Mahatma Gandhi School here sprang a pleasant surprise on the visiting Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, by singing a song penned by him, besides Gandhiji's favourite bhajan — "Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram". Mr. Vajpayee was so touched by their gesture that he immediately responded with an equally unforgettable gift for the children — a two-week all-paid trip to India for the best student of the school every year.

"The best student will be invited to visit India every year for two weeks accompanied by an adult. The ICCR will organise the visit," he said at an Indian community reception hosted in his honour by the Indian Ambassador to Germany, T. C. A. Rangachari, here last night shortly after his arrival.

The announcement was greeted by a thunderous applause. The evening programme began with the recitation of his song "Jeevan beet chala...", followed by the bhajan. Mr.Vajpayee said it was an evening at Berlin made memorable by the students' soul-stirring renderings and reminded him that he had written such a nice song.

Too many Aruns ?

In the same function Mr. Vajpayee addressed the Commerce Minister, Arun Jaitley, as "Arun Shourieji''. As Mr. Vajpayee began his speech he looked around him and remarked ``Yashwant Sinhaji, Arun Shourieji...''

As the gathering comprising the Indian diaspora started laughing, both Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Jaitley appeared a little embarrassed but they also had a hearty laugh. — PTI, UNI

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