NEHRU AND LADY MOUNTBATTEN : A GREAT LOVE (Part Five)
The dreaded moment came when the Mounbattens went down the line of assembled dignitaries to shake their hands in a final farewell. When she extended her hand to Nehru, he took her gloved hand in both of his and tenderly raised it to his lips. That gesture is enshrined in a historic photograph. In his speech bidding the Mounbattens farewell, Nehru said of lady Mountbatten: " The gods gave you beauty and intelligence and grace and charm. But they also gave you something that is rarer than those great gifts: they gave you the human touch, the love of humanity, and the urge to help the suffering and those who are in distress." Lady Mountbatten burst into tears at those words, finally giving in to her grief at the parting. The new Governor General, Rajagopalachari told Lord Mounbatten in his speech, "You and Lady Mounbatten have left us with a tender kiss. Long live Britain ! Long live India ! That cry was echoed by the crowd of millions who th...
At a time like this when we are all w eighed down by Covid19 and job loss, and masks and social distancing and shuttered restaurants, it is more important than ever to go to the piano, as to a loyal friend, for comfort. Learning a new piece requires concentration and there is no room in one's thoughts for worries. Playing what you already know provides solace and comfort. 2020 may be a horrible year, but Bach and Mozart and Chopin and Schumann and Brahms are eternal and untouched by all the crap of to-day. We who have been given the gift of piano playing are truly blessed!
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