[Rajajis Ashes Immersed In Sangam-The Sunday Standard]

Summary

This two-page archival item combines a Swatantra Party letter dated January 6, 1973, with a clipped report from The Sunday Standard dated January 7, 1973. Signed by S. V. Raju as Executive Secretary, the letter asks the newspaper’s circulation manager to provide four copies of each issue published from December 20, when Rajaji was admitted to hospital, through January 4, for the party’s records and forthcoming National Convention.

The attached report records the immersion of C. Rajagopalachari’s ashes at the Sangam in Allahabad. It describes the public procession from the Allahabad Museum, the police escort and guard of honour, the ceremonial transfer of the urn to a motor boat, and the final immersion in the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and invisible Saraswati. The pages document both the Swatantra Party’s effort to preserve contemporary press coverage and the public mourning surrounding Rajaji’s death.

Key points

• S. V. Raju wrote from the Swatantra Party’s national headquarters on January 6, 1973.
• The letter requests four copies of each issue covering Rajaji’s hospitalisation from December 20 through January 4.
• The request was made for party records and in connection with the forthcoming National Convention.
• The attached Sunday Standard clipping reports the immersion of Rajaji’s ashes at the Sangam in Allahabad.
• The report describes a public procession, wreath-laying, a police guard of honour, and ceremonial immersion.
• The clipping identifies the Sangam as the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and invisible Saraswati.