Mohammad Hidayatullah - Indian Quotes

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In the car, President Nixon seemed relaxed and quite flattered by the response of the people. Characteristically he asked me: Mr President, do people always turn out like this to greet the Indian President or is this because of the President of the United States? I sensed the comparison. I quietly replied Mr President, I would suspect that many youngsters are here to see what a bullet-proof car looks like! He smiled and replied You have a point there!.

Mohammad Hidayatullah
I spoke in debates arranged by the Indian students in London and once V. K. Krishna Menon opposed me. The debate concerned the role of Asia in world affairs and I used the word Asiatic. Menon raised a laugh against me by saying that he did not like the word because it rhymed with 'lunatic' although I should consider myself free to use it. He advised me to use the word 'Asian' instead. When my turn came for reply, I thanked him for his advice but preferred to stick to the Asiatics adding that he had no objection of Menon calling an Asian although the word rhymed with 'Simian'. This brought the house down and even Menon joined in the laughter and clapping.

Mohammad Hidayatullah
While in London I became interested in speaking in public. I lectured at Hyde Park Corner when the Simon Commission was being boycotted in India as no Indian was a member. I stood the heckling well and even indulged in a little ridicule. People completely ignorant of India and Indian conditions would heckle me. One fellow claimed that he had lived in India and Kabul which he asserted was the capital of India.

Mohammad Hidayatullah