E-Paper
HT This Day: March 14, 1962 -- Mrs Kennedy joins sick children at play; offers them lollypops
A nine- year-old child in an in-patients’ ward in the All-India Medical Institute hospital asked the night nurse, “Oh, when shall I be able to walk? I am so eager to see Mrs Kennedy!” He had heard over the radio how children had thronged the airport to welcome America’s First Lady as she landed in Delhi.
A nine- year-old child in an in-patients’ ward in the All-India Medical Institute hospital asked the night nurse, “Oh, when shall I be able to walk? I am so eager to see Mrs Kennedy!” He had heard over the radio how children had thronged the airport to welcome America’s First Lady as she landed in Delhi.
His wish was fulfilled today. Mrs Kennedy went to his bedside and gave him sweets. Beaming, he told her, “I longed to see you.”
“A brave boy,” Mrs Kennedy remarked when the doctor told her Hansraj had been bed-ridden for months. His legs were injured in a fire accident last year. He is in hospital for plastic surgery.
Like Hansraj, many other sick children were happy at Mrs Kennedy’s visit. She gave them candies, lollypops, biscuits and flowers, and the most welcome gift a record changer, with a set of records on Roota Baga stories, nursery rhymes and wonder stories.
The first child to attract Mrs Kennedy’s attention in the general ward was four-year-old Titu. who could not speak. He shouted “Hey” on seeing Mrs Kennedy entering the ward with a bagful of sweets. When he stretched his hand for a lollypop, she said: “Let me first remove the cellophane.” A sweet child, she remarked. On being told Titu was four-year-old, she said “Ah, just the same age as my little girl.”
Gifts to children
A three-year-old girl greeted Mrs Kennedy with a “namaste.” Mrs Kennedy asked the girl’s name. “Preet,” replied the nurse adding, “it means love.”
Mrs Kennedy earlier visited the children’s play room.
A three-year-old child kept holding his toy tightly when others were clapping a welcome to Mrs Kennedy. But on seeing sweets, he dropped the toy and held out both hands for the candies. He got an extra lollypop.
Mrs Kennedy sat in a small chair with the children and started playing with them. She helped one build a house out of plastic bags. She gave them flowers.
She was also presented with flowers by ten-year-old Saroj Bala and 11-year-old Chhote Lal. Both are heart patients.
To another child in the general ward she said: “You will be given ice-cream but after your tonsils are removed.”
Mrs Kennedy spent about 45 minutes in the hospital inspecting wards. She admired two paintings on the wall, presented by the American Women’s Club She also appreciated a painting of a dancing elephant by Richard Maitland, a painter-artiste.
Hundreds of people had gathered under a marquee outside the children’s ward to welcome her. They burst into a loud applause when Mrs Kennedy got out of her car, accompanied by Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, former Union Health Minister.
“We are very happy to have you here.” Rajkumari Amrit Kaur said, as she led her to a room displaying a model of the hospital building. Director B. B. Dixit told her the building would take two years more to complete It would cost ₹5.6 crores.
Looking at the model, Mrs Kennedy asked: “What are those small houses?” They were animal sheds, she was told. She signed the visitors’ book. She asked what date it was and then entered it under her signature Dr Dixit showed her the signature of Queen Elizabeth 11 in the book.
After she had left the hospital, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur told newsmen: “I am glad Mrs Kennedy saw the hospital for which the U.S Government and the Rockefeller Foundation have given a lot of money.”
