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be glad to accept the invitation.” Ultimately, it was agreed that the tea might be

arranged at the Murad Nagar Rest House which was away from public gaze and
also a quiet and lonely spot. Only a limited number of persons Mr. Nehru, Mr. Lal

Bahadur Shastri, Mr. Krishna Chandra Sharma, M.P., Mr. Gujarmal Modi and his
younger brother, Mr. Kedar Nath Modi-were present on the occasion.

At the Rest House which overlooked the Ganga canal and was situated amidst

beautiful natural surroundings, Mr. Mr. Nehru and Mr. Modi exchanged ideas over
a cup of tea. Mr. Nehru is believed to have pointed that the Congress party was

against capitalist interests and was committed to the early abolition of capital-
ism. He warned that the big industries in the country might be nationalised any

time and was surprised why in the face of such a threat capitalists were always
eager to extend a warm welcome to him instead of being disappointed at his

anti-capitalist policies and programmes. He also wondered why the capitalists
continued to expand their industries every year in the face of a genuine fear that

all these industries might be nationalised one day.

Mr. Modi replied to these queries in his own characteristic way. He said, “You

cannot claim to have fought big battles nor can you claim to be the most learned
person in the country. Still if the common people are prepared to brave the

scorching sun and wait for hours in order to have a glimpse of you, it is because
you have performed really good deeds (Karmas) in your past life. In the same

way it must be because of good deeds performed by me in past life that even
though I have not received very high education and even though l do not pos-

sess any special qualities, God has always fulfilled my wishes,” Mr. Modi added.

The year 1952 was no less difficult for Mr. Modi. Frost had destroyed the sugar-
cane crop and at the end of March-April when the groundnut crop was ready,

there was a large accumulation of stocks with the mill owners, and the specula-
tors entered the market to create conditions of slump. When Mr. Modi reached

Bombay from Nasik he was informed that oil prices in the market had crashed
and continued to register a steep fall. The prices of groundnut oil fell from Rs. 70

to Rs. 40 per maund (37.1 Kg) The next day Mr. Modi got the news that there had
been a further fall in the prices of oils. There was also a fall in the prices of metals,

cotton and some other items. With the result several established firms had to
close down. Many factories were forced to close down and the banks were wor-

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