Sunday 3 October 2021

Indian PM Lal Bahadur Shastri arrived at Tashkent for peace talks with Pakistan mediated by the USSR.

In January 1966, Indian PM Lal Bahadur Shastri arrived at Tashkent for peace talks with Pakistan mediated by the USSR. Tashkent in January was brutally cold. Shastri Ji only had his khadi woolen coat with him as a warm garment. Soviet premier Alexei Kosigyn observed this and felt that the Indian PM must be uncomfortable in the extreme cold. He ordered a Russian overcoat to be gifted to Shastri ji. At a formal function, he presented the coat to Shastri Ji as a mark of respect. Next day, Kosigyn noted Shastri ji was still wearing his khadi coat. A bit perplexed, he asked the prime minister what happened during a break in official events. Kosigyn was worried that Shastri Ji hadn't liked the present.

 

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