Kaleidoscope: Reminisces Of The Hon’ble And The Wicked

Book Code: 1111025237890

R.K.Puri

ABOUT THE BOOK

The book transports one to a bygone era, taking the reader on a captivating journey from pre-independent India to the current times. A colourful fabric of anecdotes and personal narratives inter-twine giving a glimpse of royal eccentricities, strength of character of political stalwarts of yesteryears along with engaging anecdotes that dotted a long bureaucratic career.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

R. K. Puri was born in 1938, his childhood was spent in pre-independence India witnessing the transition of the country to independence; to a developing Nation, rapidly moving towards becoming a global superpower and the World's fifth largest economy .

Having served in the government from 1961, in various Ministries of Railways, Defence (Army Headquarters during the 1971 war), Tourism, Commerce and Trade (deputed as Director Tea Board of India at London).

The author had a ring side view of the turning wheels within the bureaucracy with some memorable moments which portray strength of character and some, full of joi de vivre !

Post his retirement from the Government of India in 1996, he became the Founder Secretary General of the Hotel Association of India from which he stepped down voluntarily in 2020.

He was awarded the 'Vishisht Yogyata Padak' by the Ministry of Railways in 1973; the PATA Gold Medal - Grand Category , 1990 for enhancement of Tourism Education in South East Asia by PATA (Pacific Asia Tourism Association) at Vancouver, Canada and the IATO (Indian Association of Tour Operators) - Hall of Fame award in 1995.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements ---------------------9
Preface ----------------------------11
Prologue  --------------------- 13
1. Royal Rajputana  --------------------- 17
Part I : Resurgent Rajasthan
2. Resurgent Rajasthan  ---------------------23
3. The Viceroys’ Wicked Hunt  ---------------------27
4. Royal Capers  ---------------------29
5. The Coronation of a Maharaja  ---------------------31
6. Banquet for the Viceroy  ---------------------33
7. Cottage that Colonel James Todd Built  ---------------------35
8. General Cariappa’s Unforgettable Advice  ---------------------37
9. Sir Donald Field, Last British Satrap of Rajputana --------------------- 41
10. Reminisces of Presidents of India  ---------------------45
11. Prime Ministers I Met: Reminisces  ---------------------51
12. Indian Police Service 1961 Foundation Course : Mussoorie  ---------------------57
13. Central Police Training College, Mount ABU  ---------------------61
Part II : Switch to Indian Railways
14. Switch to Indian Railway Traffic Service: 1962-1996  ---------------------65
15. Indo - Pak War of 1971: Role of Indian Railways -
A Ringside View  ---------------------69
16. Moving 93,000 POWs  ---------------------73
17. Bangkok Agreement 1975 Asia’s First Regional
Trade Agreement  ---------------------77
18. India Tea Centre, London 1977-79  ---------------------81
19. When Morarji Desai Laughed  ---------------------89
20. Hobson’s Choice - Gina Lollobrigida or the Pope  ---------------------91
21. A High Point of London Society  ---------------------93
22. Mountbatten’s Missed Appointment  ---------------------95
23. Prince Charles’ India Connection  ---------------------97
24. Palace-On-Wheels  ---------------------101
25. India Tourism Development Corporation : 1982-86  ---------------------107
26. Festival of India in Washington  ---------------------109
27. Asian Panorama  ---------------------113
28. Field Marshal Manekshaw – Manekshawism 117
29. National Committee of Tourism: 1986-87  ---------------------123
30. PATA Gold Award Grand Category: 1990  ---------------------131
Part III :Paan at the Indian Banquet
31. ‘Paan’ at the Indian Banquet at Islamabad  ---------------------135
32. Auditing Accounts of Prime Minister’s House  ---------------------139
33. Montgomery’s Drumbeat at the Yacht Club  ---------------------141
34. Last Act of Lord Mountbatten as Viceroy  ---------------------143
35. Breakfast at Tiffany’s  ---------------------145
Part IV: Memories of Mandvi
36. Memories of Mandvi  ---------------------151
37. Vignettes  ---------------------153
38. Father, Friend, Philosopher and Guide  ---------------------165
Epilogue  ---------------------169
Index  ---------------------171