Raj Bhavan MP Anecdotes

Raj Bhawan Anecdotes

In 1967, Congress members under Shri Govind Narain Singh left Congress party. Smt. Vijaya Raje Scindia led a procession from Vidhan Sabha to Raj Bhawan, but due to lack of space only the leaders were invited inside.
On 9 June 1980, during Shri Arjun Singh's oath ceremony, there was too much rush. Even the Governor's team found it tough to find its way through. Shri Kailash Joshi, a former Chief Minister, was also caught in the melee. Shri Arjun Singh saw this, went up to him and made him sit on a sofa near him.

Shri B. Pattabhi Sitaramaiya

He never relished the Governor's job in totality, as, he once remarked, "I only write reports for New Delhi, nothing else".
Being a Doctor, he used to advise the Raj Bhavan staff on the benefits of eating a balanced and good diet.

Shri H. Vinayak. Pataskar

He was high on humour on social workers. He said that in India social service begins with purchase of a Jeep and ends with its repairing.

He returned Mandloi Government's ordinance on recovery of land revenue rationalization. He presented his objections on the ordinance before central ministers and Planning Commission and Jawahar Lal Nehru. Finally, he succeeded in changing the provisions of the ordinance.
Once Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru publicly criticised the then Chief Minister K.N. Katju on Jabalpur communal riots. Shri Pataskar wrote to Jawahar Lal Nehru that since law and order was a state subject, the Center shouldn't interfere in this matter. He also highlighted that under the federal structure, the Prime Minister cannot accuse a Chief Minister this way. This was an unprecedented and highly effective step of a Governor for protecting the honour of his Chief Minister.
On a visit of Jawahar Lal Nehru to Bhopal, the queen of Bhopal invited him to stay at her palace, which Jawahar Lal Nehru accepted. Shri Pataskar immediately contacted Jawahar Lal Nehru and pressed that this being an official visit, Raj Bhawan was the only appropriate place for him to stay.
On a visit of Jawahar Lal Nehru to Bhopal, the Raj Bhavan staff realised that the favourite cigarette brand of Nehruji "555" was not available in the Raj Bhavan. Nehruji used to have a cigarette after his meals. The staff immediately sent a plane to Indore for air-lifting Nehruji's favourite pack, which was kept ready at the Indore airport.
He used to personally read and make notes by hand on mercy petitions. He always said that when it comes to a precious human life, the matter cannot simply be left upto the babus of Raj Bhawan.
An embodiment of simplicity, he used to personally see off all his guests at the gate.
He was a keen morning-walker. He used to go by car to the Jail Road, his favourite spot for the morning walk.
His wife was affectionately called as "Tai Ji". She set up a ladies club comprising of the ladies residing in the Raj Bhavan campus. The members of the club were encouraged to take up financially rewarding tasks such as making pickles, chutneys, sewing and related activities. Later on, the club was also established at the Pachmarhi Raj Bhavan.
A Drama festival was organised on every "Sharad Poornimaa" by the inmates and the Public Relations Department of the Raj Bhavan. Tukji Rao Holkar and his wife from Indore and the Nawab of Bhopal were permanent invitees on the occasion.
Every year on his birthday, he used to have food with the entire Raj Bhavan staff. They all used to sit on the floor and have food in the typical Maharashtrian style. "Tai Ji" used to perform his "Aarti" and also of another staff, the ADC's wife who happended to share her birthday with him.
He once went for watching a magic show at Jehangirabad. To escape identification, he went by a private vehicle.
A highly devout person, religious ceremonies such as "Kirtan", "Havan", etc, were very frequently held in the Raj Bhavan during his tenure.

Shri K. C. Reddy

He once administered the oath of acting Governor for 15 days to the Chief Justice of M.P. High Court, Justice Shri Dixit. The only intention behind this act was to avoid having to address the Legislative Assembly in Hindi, as, he was not good at it.

Shri S. N. Sinha

Prof. Hiren Mukherjee in his book "Portrait of Parliament" called him "His Highness Mr. Fragrance".
Raj Bhawan used to be filled with the aroma of ittar inside and roses outside.
Jawahar Lal Nehru used to say to him "your arrival is announced by your ittar even before you".
He used to take a lot of time getting dressed up.

Smt. S. Grewal

The furniture, in a bad shape once she took over, was not disposed off.
Instead, she went to New Delhi and got along workers of her previous department to work on the furniture. Thus, she got the old furniture renovated and refurbished at a fraction of the cost of purchasing new furniture.
The old curtains and tapestry were kept by her securely. When the need arose for more table mats and napkins, she asked to cut and design the old cloth and re-use it as mats and napkins.
She maintained her food account separate from the general account of Raj Bhavan. She used to pay the actual expenses on her family's food from her own pocket. Only the official lunch, dinners, etc were from the Raj Bhavan's account.
She was very considerate and caring for the Raj Bhavan employees. On one occasion, she allotted the vehicles of the Raj Bhavan for assisting in the marriage of an employee's daughter.

Shri Kunwar Mehmood Ali Khan

His Hindi speeches were originally written in Urdu, which he used to translate extempore while delivering.

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