Nehru vs. Bachchan: A Clash of Words Over Presidential Address Translation

The book 'Nehru's First Recruits' unveils a heated argument between India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan over the translation of a presidential address. Nehru found Bachchan's Hindi translation too complex, leading to a clash of egos and eventual compromise.

The book 'Nehru's First Recruits' unveils a heated argument between India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan over the translation of a presidential address. Nehru criticized Bachchan's Hindi translation as too complex, saying it would be difficult for Vice President Zakir Husain to pronounce certain words.

Bachchan, who was recruited by Nehru to serve as an officer on special duty for Hindi at the Ministry of External Affairs, stood his ground, arguing that language should not be altered for individual convenience. Their clash symbolized the larger cultural and linguistic tensions in India at the time.

Eventually, Nehru convinced Bachchan to produce a simpler text, avoiding potential embarrassment for the vice president and maintaining media and public favor.

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