When Chandraswami impressed British Iron lady
Last updated: 29 January, 2011
London, Jan 29 (PTI) 17:36 IST
Controversial Indian guru Chandraswami had impressed former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to the extent that the Iron lady agreed to wear a special red dress and a battered talisman around her wrist following a meeting in 1975, media reports today said.
Thatcher, who was leader of the Conservative party at that time, met Chandraswami in her office in the House of Commons in 1975.
She was reportedly so impressed with Chandraswami's apparent powers that she agreed to his request to wear a special red dress and a battered talisman around her wrist to a second meeting.
At the second meeting, it is claimed the bearded guru correctly predicted that she would come to power within four years and remain there for more than a decade, The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail today reported.
Details of the extraordinary meetings were reportedly revealed by former Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh, who was present when they took place.He was India's Deputy High Commissioner to the UK when Chandraswamy arrived in London in 1975 and demanded a meeting with Thatcher.
Singh was reportedly astonished when Thatcher agreed to meet the guru, but insisted that the session would last only ten minutes.
Chandraswamy reportedly arrived at her House of Commons office wearing an orange shawl, with a tilak mark on his forehead, beads around his neck and carrying a staff in his right hand.
After introducing himself, he gave Thatcher five strips of paper and, with Singh's help as translator, asked her to write a question on each.
She obliged and watched as the guru closed his eyes and went into a trance. When he emerged, he asked Thatcher to open the paper balls one by one, and correctly told her the question written on each.
"Irritation gave way to subdued curiosity," Singh is quoted as recalling."By the fourth question, I thought, she began to consider Chandraswamy a holy man indeed. Chandraswamy was like a triumphant guru and took off his slippers and sat on the sofa in the lotus position," the diplomat was quoted as saying.
"I was appalled but Mrs Thatcher seemed to approve. She asked more questions and, in each case, Chandraswamy's response overwhelmed her," he said.
Chandraswami cut short the meeting when he announced that the sun had set, meaning he was unable to continue, the reports said.
She was reportedly so impressed with Chandraswami's apparent powers that she agreed to his request to wear a special red dress and a battered talisman around her wrist to a second meeting.
At the second meeting, it is claimed the bearded guru correctly predicted that she would come to power within four years and remain there for more than a decade, The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail today reported.
Details of the extraordinary meetings were reportedly revealed by former Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh, who was present when they took place.He was India's Deputy High Commissioner to the UK when Chandraswamy arrived in London in 1975 and demanded a meeting with Thatcher.
Singh was reportedly astonished when Thatcher agreed to meet the guru, but insisted that the session would last only ten minutes.
Chandraswamy reportedly arrived at her House of Commons office wearing an orange shawl, with a tilak mark on his forehead, beads around his neck and carrying a staff in his right hand.
After introducing himself, he gave Thatcher five strips of paper and, with Singh's help as translator, asked her to write a question on each.
She obliged and watched as the guru closed his eyes and went into a trance. When he emerged, he asked Thatcher to open the paper balls one by one, and correctly told her the question written on each.
"Irritation gave way to subdued curiosity," Singh is quoted as recalling."By the fourth question, I thought, she began to consider Chandraswamy a holy man indeed. Chandraswamy was like a triumphant guru and took off his slippers and sat on the sofa in the lotus position," the diplomat was quoted as saying.
"I was appalled but Mrs Thatcher seemed to approve. She asked more questions and, in each case, Chandraswamy's response overwhelmed her," he said.
Chandraswami cut short the meeting when he announced that the sun had set, meaning he was unable to continue, the reports said.
