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Most memorable was to speak to a Sunday Church Group, age
group 5-8 years old. It was so very nice to talk to them with
their innocent questions. The touching part was that post
the talk each child came to me one by one to say "Thank You"
and more importantly to say "May God Bless You". Those words
from young and beautiful children remain fresh in my memory
even today. I feel truly blessed.
SPEAKING TO VARIOUS GROUPS
TV appearance on two consecutive Sundays has already been
mentioned.
Typical questions at such gatherings used to be:
What are the basic tenents of Sikh Religion?
Details about my family?
How long were my hair and turban?
Would I marry an American?
Do people in India sleep on the streets?
On the political side, there were queries on India and Indians'
attitude towards Britain and Russia.
I cannot resist quoting myself at one gathering when questioned
on broader Indian national issues:
"Freedom brought its complicated problems to India and
the Nation needs time to develop a stable economy. The average
Indian has no grudge against the British. They left in a very
cordial atmosphere. There are as many British officers there
as in the past. He expressed need for American aid. In speaking
of Russia, he said, we are not against Russia but against
the political system there. The Nation needs private investment
to raise its living standard, now regarded as one of the poorest
in the world".
No wonder the local Librarian asked me how come I was the
largest borrower of books on India. I had to learn about my
country in these three years to answer the variety of questions
thrown at me. I made some good friends who ensured that I
was well looked after socially and otherwise. Moundsville
turned out to be too small a town for me. I decided to shift
to a service apartment in a larger town, Wheeling.
It was with a heavy heart that I left for Europe enroute to
India visiting UK, France Spain, Italy, Greece, and Egypt.
I also got an opportunity to work in Austria for a couple
of months. But that is another story, an interesting one too...
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