Mysore/Mysuru: Acclaimed writer Dr. S.L. Bhyrappa maintained that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was deprived of the Prime Minister’s post because of the great affection that Mahatma Gandhi had for Jawaharlal Nehru.

He was speaking after releasing writer Ajakkala Girish Bhat’s work ‘Bahuvachanakkonde Tatva’ at a programme organised by the city’s Samajika Nyaya Vedike in association with Hubballi’s Sahitya Prakashana at Gopalaswamy College on JLB Road here yesterday.

Noting that Sardar Patel had a bigger support than Nehru for becoming the Country’s first Prime Minister post-independence, Dr. Bhyrappa said that Nehru walked out at the meeting convened for electing the Prime Minister as he got little support. Then Mahatma Gandhi intervened and convinced Sardar Patel to back out of the top post and accordingly, Patel opted out of the race, which resulted in Nehru becoming the Prime Minister.

Contending that Nehru did not become the Prime Minister after winning the election but due to the courtesy of Mahatma Gandhi, he said that the people of the country know what all happened after Nehru took over as Independent India’s first Prime Minister. Stating that mass religious conversions took place in Meghalaya, where tribal communities were converted to Christianity, which is attributed to an Anglican priest named Verrier Elwin, who was given huge amount of money.

Continuing, Dr. Bhyrappa said that Nehru had an younger sister by name Krishna Nehru Hutheesing who has written a book titled ‘With No Regretes,’ which was translated into Kannada by Dr. DeJaGow and titled as ‘Nenapu Kahiyalla.’

Pointing out that the book explains the life of Nehru when he was in Nainital  jail, he said it is to be noted that Nehru wrote his book ‘Discovery of India’ in this jail. The book became popular in a short time as it was based on the history of India as recorded by the British Historians. A cinema was also made based on the book, he added.

“The book author Girish Bhat has made a mention of Veer Savarkar in his work. Savarkar was sentenced to 52-year prison term. Unable to bear the trauma while in jail, he gave a written undertaking that he would not take part in politics further, which led to his release. But some distorted this to their own convenience saying that Savarkar came out of jail after tendering an apology, which is a false narrative. The jail life of Savarkar cannot be compared with that of Nehru as Nehru had all the facilities while in Jail,” Dr. Bhyrappa said adding that the author Girish Bhat, who has widely read English literature, is a different type of author.

Writer Rohit Chakrateertha, in his address, said that a false narrative that Aryans were migrants who attacked the locals is being widely spread, which is unfortunate. India is a multi-cultural country which is rarely seen elsewhere in the world. But with the passage of time, Indians have begun to understand what is the real history and facts of the country, he added.

Senior Advocate O. Sham Bhat, who is also the President of Saamajika Nyaya Vedike, said that Hindu religion has incorporated multi-cultures.

Pointing out that Saints of Southern India have highlighted Lalita Sahasranama, Sri Chakra Aradhana and Surya Aradhane in Rigveda, he said it is interesting to note that many idols of Lord Shiva and other Agastya Saints were discovered amidst the rubbles when earthquakes occurred in Malaysia and Indonesia a few years ago.

Maharaja Education Trust (MET) President Dr. S. Murali, author Ajakkala Girish Bhat, Rangayana Director Addanda C. Cariappa and others were present on the occasion.