In the early fifties we were living in government accommodation in Delhi’s South Avenue since father was in government service. Overlooking the Rashtrapati Bhavan on one side and the Teen Murti House, on the other, South Avenue was calm and clean, devoid of police pickets.

Once father informed us of a special function involving the ceremonial send-off to the last British viceroy in India, the late Lord Mountbatten. It was decided that the spacious lawns of Rashtrapati Bhavan would be the venue for the function, which was open to the public. We were told that we could attend it, but that we should keep off the lawns. That morning we hurriedly walked the one kilometre distance and reached the foot of the redstone parapet, bordering the sprawling Rashtrapati Bhavan lawns. No security personnel were posted en route. The few that were stationed near the parapet did not check our identity. This enabled us to position ourselves at a convenient spot for a clearer view of the ceremony.

The anxious moments of waiting ended when we noticed an open-hooded presidential carriage, pulled by six horses, stopping near the Jaipur Column pillar. Mounted on the horses were three gorgeously uniformed cavalry men. They were manning two horses each. Soon after, a huge limousine drove close to the carriage. We could instantly recognise the gentlemen emerging from it. They were the late Dr Rajendra Prasad and the late Lord Mountbatten. They presented a study in contrast. The former donned a Gandhi cap, Jawahar coat and a milk-white dhoti; the latter was in a naval commander’s uniform. As they walked up to the chariot, a security officer saluted and opened the door for them. Stepping inside, they sat face to face in the carriage, along with their aides.

The bugle was sounded signalling the procession to move on. The three mounted cavalry men got their horses to move, with a mild tug at the reins. All the horses were required to draw the carriage. Unfortunately all, except one, failed to abide by their masters’ orders. As a result, the carriage did not roll as scheduled, to the utter embarrassment of the dignitaries seated inside it. When repeated coaxing failed, the front pair of horses was separated. Eventually, the carriage was pulled by four horses.

The procession and the ceremony concluded, as the carriage crossed over the wide-open massive exit gate of Rashtrapati Bhavan, overlooking the North and South Block secretariats. It was a truly magnificent sight that ordinary Indians in Delhi could have got a glimpse of — if they had so desired.