18

Dec

Fighting Falsehood and Foreclosing Its Floodgates

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A person with white hair and glasses AI-generated content may be incorrect.(Loose and irresponsible talk, totally unsubstantiated allegations, character assassination and distortion of historical facts have unfortunately become a common feature of our public discourse. While on one hand, such discourse pollutes the public mind with falsehood and prejudice, on the other hand, it severely damages sober dialogue on critical issues of economy, polity and governance. While the need is to educate the public mind on development issues for the progress of the country, the ill-informed and semi-literate opinion-makers divert the public mind towards non-issues. Unfortunately, such issues come to be discussed even at the highest level and consume the time of those bigwigs whose precious time should go into nation-building activities.

Therefore, the need of the hour for those who are in the media is that instead of taking cognisance of all the falsehood and distorted information being spread by the vested interests through social and traditional media, we should do something positive to counter it in an effective manner. Media Map bilingual website has, therefore, decided to run an occasional column where the attempt will be to give a correct and true picture of the issue about which falsehood is being spread.

It will be a contributory column in which we will collect material from all sources. You are welcome to write on any issue with facts and figures, rebutting any distorted version of a happening or person, past or present. However, we will not join issues,  adopt an aggressive tone or make counterattacks but will let facts speak for themselves, which we think would be the best way to make the propagators of falsehood feel ashamed and realise that falsehood cannot stand against facts. We hope our small initiative will lead to building an atmosphere which will foreclose the floodgates of falsehood in public debate,

Since we want to take up this as a campaign, we would request you to read, write for and share this column with your friends and family. The first item of the column is attached for your perusal. – Editor ) 

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NEHRU, DR PRASAD DID ATTEND PATEL'S FUNERAL

Ravi Visvesvaraya

New Delhi | Friday | 19 December 2025

On the death anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the falsehood is again being spread that Jawaharlal Nehru did not attend his funeral, and further that he tried to prevent President Rajendra Prasad from attending the Iron Man's funeral.

In fact, Jawaharlal Nehru, President Rajendra Prasad, Chakravarthy Rajagopalachari, and the Speaker GV Mavalankar attended his funeral.

Here is Jawaharlal Nehru's speech in parliament at 10:45 am on 15 December 1950, announcing the demise of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at 09:37 am in Mumbai.

My father, HY Sharada Prasad, was one of the editors of the Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru.

The deputy speaker, M. Ananthasayanam Ayyangar, was in the chair because the speaker, GV Mavalankar, had already left to get ready to travel to Mumbai.

The Prime Minister (Shri Jawaharlal Nehru):

I have to convey to you, Sir, and to the House, mournful news.

A little over an hour ago, at 9-37 this morning, the Deputy Prime Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, passed away in Bombay City.

Article at a Glance
The article debunks the recurring claim that Jawaharlal Nehru did not attend Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s funeral or tried to prevent President Rajendra Prasad from doing so. It presents historical evidence showing that Nehru, President Rajendra Prasad, C. Rajagopalachari, and Speaker G.V. Mavalankar all attended Patel’s funeral in Mumbai.
The piece cites Nehru’s parliamentary speech on 15 December 1950, delivered shortly after Patel’s death, in which he paid a deeply emotional tribute to his colleague, acknowledging Patel’s pivotal role in India’s freedom struggle and national integration.
 Nehru also informed Parliament that he, Rajagopalachari, the President, and the Speaker were travelling to Mumbai to pay their respects. The Deputy Speaker’s address further highlights Patel’s monumental contributions, leading to the adjournment of the House as a mark of respect.

Three days ago, many of us saw him off at the Willingdon airfield, and we hoped that his stay in Bombay would enable him to get back his health, which had been so grievously shattered by hard work and continuous worry.

For a day or two, he seemed to improve, but at last, early this morning, he had a relapse, and the story of his great life ended.

It is a great story, as all of us know, as the whole country knows, and history will record it in many pages and call him the Builder and Consolidator of the New India and will say many things about him.

But perhaps to many of us here he will be remembered as a great captain of our forces in the struggle for freedom and as one who gave us sound advice in times of troubles as well as in moments of victory, as a friend and colleague on whom one could invariably rely, as a tower of strength which revived wavering hearts when we were in trouble.

We shall remember him as a friend and a colleague and comrade above all, and I, who have sat here on this bench side by side with him for these several years, will feel rather forlorn, and a certain emptiness will steal upon me when I look to his empty bench. I can say little more on this occasion.

My colleague, Mr Rajagopalachari, and I are going almost immediately to pay our last tribute and homage to him in Bombay.

I understand that the President has also decided to go to Bombay immediately, and the Speaker, Sir, went early this morning.

I have no doubt that many of my colleagues and honourable Members of this House would have liked to go to Bombay on this occasion to pay this last tribute, but I feel that he, magnificent worker that he was, would not have liked us to leave our work and just go in large numbers to Bombay at this moment.

So I have asked my colleagues to stay here, except for Mr Rajagopalachari, who was perhaps amongst all of us here the oldest of Sardar Patel's colleagues and comrades. And it is right that he should go, and it is right that that other old colleague of his, the President, should also go.

For the rest, it is up to us to carry on the work here and elsewhere, for the work of the country never stops, never should stop.

And so, in spite of this grievous sorrow that has come over us, we have to steel ourselves to carry on the work in which the great man, great friend and colleague, who has passed away, played such a magnificent part. »

Deputy Speaker's Response

Mr. Deputy-Speaker:

«The Lion of Gujarat and Sardar of India has passed away.

In his demise, India has lost one of its national heroes, one of the greatest sons of India.

He was the right hand of Mahatmaji.

The title of Sardar that he got was not one that was conferred by any king, but it was a symbol of the hearty recognition by the entire population of India.

His undaunted courage and unflinching sacrifice are known to all.

He died as a soldier on the battlefield. To the last day, he was rendering service unflinchingly, even at the cost of his health.

He performed a miracle in this country, both in winning the freedom for this country and also, after winning freedom, in the cause of unification and consolidation of this country. He really performed a miracle.

A revolution—a bloodless revolution—which is unknown in the history of the world has been brought about by him.

The five hundred and sixty-five odd States and the medieval rule have all been eventually dissolved.

India owes a deep debt of gratitude to him. His name will be cherished by all of us and will be handed down to posterity.

His life will be a beacon of light for all of us and also for future generations.

I am sure that though he has left his mortal coil, his spirit will be with us and guide us forever and ever. May his soul rest in peace.

In his memory, I would adjourn this House today, and there will not be a sitting of the House tomorrow. We will stand in silence for two minutes as a mark of respect. We will meet on Monday. »

The House then adjourned till a Quarter to eleven of the Clock on Monday, the 18th December, 1950.

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