The author was one of four Indians who participated in a course here in Israel from December 1966 to April 1967. At that time he worked for the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh as the Education Officer for the State's Cooperative Union. Now retired, he serves as Chairperson of the Indo-Israel Friendship Council in Ghaziabad (a suburb of New Delhi) and
Kanpur, a city about 450 kms from the capital.
March 1967
The bus was meandering through the Judean hills, its 34 occupants drawn
from 15 countries of Asia and Africa. They were completing their four-
month 14th International Course on Cooperation and Labor Studies at the
Afro-Asian Institute, Tel Aviv. Excitement was writ large on their faces
as they were going to call on the President of Israel in New Jerusalem.
The morning air was cool, fresh and scented owing to spring. Greenery
and flowers lent enchantment to the view.
After negotiating some curves, the bus came to a halt inbetween blocks
of buildings. Our Director, Akiva Eger, talked to two guards in deep
blue uniforms and led us upstairs into a large room where the President
received visitors. Its walls were bare. It could boast of an old wall-
to-wall carpet. Some 40-50 small folding chairs, a table and a few
chairs completed its decor.
Young soldier girls in matching dress holding trays of orange juice in
small glasses faced us and disappeared like Ariel before our eyes could
feast on their beauty. We seated ourselves country-wise alphabetically.
A slender lady with a pencil and notebook heralded the President's
arrival and took her seat in a corner.
We stood up in deference to President Zalman Shazar (Historian, Poet and
Scholar). He cast a glance on all of us. After our Director had finished
a brief resume of the course, we introduced ourselves and named the
country. The President spoke only one sentence in English, saying he
would speak in Hebrew as per traditions of the House while his Secretary
would translate. He spoke with great fervor and enthusiasm. Several
times he spoke the word "Hodu" (India), praised India for its ancient
civilization and the deep bonds of friendship between the people of the
two countries. He described us as honorary goodwill ambassadors of
Israel in our countries and expressed the hope that on return to our
mother countries, we would spread the message of friendship and
fraternity among our people towards Israel.
The rugged austerity of the Presidential House, the simple living and
high thinking of its occupant were both impressing and bewildering to
us. Except for chairs and table, the room resembled Mahatma Gandhi's
Ashram (living and prayer abode) at Sabarmati Ahmedabad, Gujrat.
When it came time to leave Israel, I felt as though layers of skin were
ripped off me.
December, 1996
If one thought that our Black Cats guards were menacing, one had only to
see the Israeli Commandos who protected Israeli President Ezer Weizman
of his first ever visit to India. At a reception held in his honor by
Israeli Ambassador Dr. Yehoyada Haim in the Taj Mahal Hotel, the cream
of Delhiites and Leaders of Friendship Association watched fascinated as
the white haired President stood flagged by an army of strapping Israeli
Commandos with walkie talkies and glinting eyes. Mr. Weizman, however,
charmed everyone by reaching out to shake hands, chat and pose for
pictures with any of the guests who managed to wedge his way between
layers of security. The President was completely at ease with the
special feeling that one gets on visiting a place where one feels at
home, while I was gripped with feelings of nostalgia and a dream come
true.
President Weizman was elated when the writer greeted him with "Shalom
Aleichem" and told him about his earlier meeting with President
Shazar in Israel 30 years ago. He also presented him with a published
article on India and Israel.