Lemme share an anecdote told to me by a then senior doordarshan employee, who was on duty when Sanjay Gandhi died. Cameramen were sent to major leaders to get their reactions (cont)
Mostly the responses were over the top, because well IG was PM and Sanjay was heir apparent and he had died. She was sure to know who said what. Only Morarjee gave an apt response “It is a huge loss to the mother” (cont)
The cameraman at Zail Singh’s house recorded his statement which was like others - National loss, irreparable etc. After recording as the Cameraman was wrapping up, Zail Singh said “ruko ruko” (cont)
He asked the Cameraman to re-record his statement. Suddenly he burst into tears and shed copious tears while speaking about Sanjay Gandhi’s untimely death. (cont)
Doordarshan played the second take. Whether IG saw the first take, natural, or just the second one, will remain a mystery. The official is no more, the cameraman must have retired long ago.
