Allahabad :

While the country fondly remembers Pt Jawaharlal Nehru as India’s first Prime Minister, the role of his close aides in small districts is often forgotten. One of his close aides, Pundit Krishna Chandra Dubey, is one such example.

Popularly known as ‘Vaidji’, Pt Dubey used to play host to Nehru when the latter came to Phulpur during canvassing in his constituency. Nehru used to stay at Pt Duey’s home for months at times. Once known for its grandeur, Pt Dubey’s house, located in Phulpur tehsil (around 35 kilometers from Allahabad), is now in ruins.

The entire area has turned into ruins, dominated by half-exposed bricks and shrubs which have cropped up at several places. Wooden frames, of doors and windows, are on the verge of collapsing and the well, which once used to give potable water, is filled with mud and debris.

The entire area is now known as remains of a forgotten civilization than a place which once housed country’s first Prime Minister.

Nagesh Kumar Vaid, 52, a descendant of Vaidji, points out, “Until the time of our father Shiv Kumar Dubey, a close associate of Indira Gandhi, every dawn came along with promises for the change but things are not the sam now. However, we still take pride in being associated with Nehru’s”.

Another old-timer of the tehsil, M L Jaiswal, who was often part of Nehru’s local entourage when he came visiting said, “He had a special fondness for his jail mates at Naini, one of whom was Krishna Chand Vaid in whose house Nehruji stayed whenever he came here”. Once Vaidji had asked Nehru about the neglected state of Phulpur after which Nehru sent him to Orissa and Bastar. When he returned, Nehruji asked him what he saw, and Vaidji replied that he saw hunger and deprivation to which Nehru replied, isn’t Phulpur better off? My concern is for people who have nothing, Nehru had said,” remembers Jaiswal.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Allahabad / by Rajeev Mani, TNN / November 14th, 2014