Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – April 17, 1995

We woke up at four in the morning with an alarm clock. We went to the airport with modesty and after a short interview, we flew to Delhi. Faizeh and Azam [Mohsen's wife] and the ministers of oil, foreign affairs, guidance, science, etc. were with them. On the way, I prayed the morning prayer and slept a little, had some negotiations and had breakfast.

At nine o'clock Delhi time, we landed at the city's military airport. Mr. [Narasimha] Rao, the Prime Minister himself had come to the airport contrary to the custom. We went to the presidential palace. Upon entering, they played a ball and a large number of horsemen welcomed us and accompanied us, and we were immediately introduced to the characters and companions.

My residence, Efat and the children are in the presidential palace, which was built by the British seventy years ago, and my companions are staying in the hotel. We rested a little. Then we went to the grave site of [Mahatma] Gandhi, [the late leader of India]; For laying a wreath and planting a tree and writing a sentence on a special sheet. They showed the sentence "Khodayar" and said it was Gandhi's last speech after the assassination.

We returned to the palace. A negotiation session was held with Mr. Sharma, the President. The talks were mostly historical and focused on Persian literature and records of the Persian language in India and a little about the development of their relations and more. The old man is cool and refined and at the same time knowledgeable.

We went to Hyderabad House for lunch. As if we were here in the previous trip. We talked a little before lunch and then had lunch. At the lunch table, we had many different conversations. A group of pro-government Kashmiris were also brought. We were going to meet with both opposing and pro groups, or neither. A lot of information about India was obtained at the dinner table.

After returning to the headquarters and resting a little, we went to the opening of the Nahj al-Balagheh Congress. This congress was organized by the Iranian Friendship Association with the help of the Iranian Embassy. They spoke well and most of them were university professors and academic and literary figures. I also spoke and the message of the president [of India] was read, which had good things about Hazrat Ali (a.s.) and Nahj al-Balagha. They gave cultural gifts.

We returned to the headquarters. The Indian Foreign Minister came. The talks were about the development of relations. Then we went to the embassy; For the starting ceremony of the Iran-India Friendship Association, most of whom were members of the Nahj al-Balagheh Congress. Two of them talked and it was good. Then I said something about the long history of the Persian language in India and its dominance over the literature and politics of our time, and expressed my regret for its isolation after the British rule, and gave suggestions for its revival and Iranian and Persian works.

The embassy building is also new and interesting. We came to the headquarters. After the prayer, the president came and after some conversation, we went to their reception hall, in a large hall that was decorated with many pictures and had many words and poems in Persian language. We had the introduction and handshake ceremony again. We went to the dinner table. On both sides of me were the speaker of the parliament and the president of the Supreme Court, and in front of me were the president and the prime minister. We talked a lot about the situation in India. In general, people are kind and warm-hearted. In the hall, we suggested that a carpet with images of the hall ceiling be woven in Iran for the floor of the hall, and Mr. Rao said that it should be done with the company of Iran and India.

After dinner, we came to the headquarters. On the way of Mr. Aghazadeh, [Oil Minister], he gave the report of his negotiations about the gas pipeline and sales and gave their expectation to help their party. Chastity and companions had also returned. The weather is hot and humid.