Indian Ambassador forced me to write a letter to implicate Jerry Thomas: 83 year old senior Indian Citizen in Iran
"The very same day the Ambassador called me to his office. I went there
alone, because no one was willing to come with me because they were afraid.
When I met the Ambassador Mr. Giroh was also with him. They shouted at me
and ordered me to apologize for writing letter. The Ambassador personally
brought paper and pen and forced me to write the apology. But I refused. I
am 83 years old and I fear God, but I will never stand for untruth. I will
never bend my head in fear. The Ambassador wanted me to write that Jerry
Thomas is a bad fellow and whatever he has done till now is all bad," writes an 83 year old Indian Citizen in Iran. The Ambassador was not available for comment, and a reply is expeted from his office.16-8-2002
Respected Sir,
I am 83 year old gentleman living in Tehran. My father started his business
in Tehran in 1912, and I joined him in 1940. From that time I am in Tehran.
Before my country got freedom we were all living in Iran under British
nationality. After India won independence we opted for Indian nationality.
We were proud to be Indians.I have worked with Jawaharlal Nehru, and I am proud to say that I personally
handed over a donation to Mr. Nehru, which we collected for the war efforts,
during Mr. Nehru's visit to Iran.I am from Punjab. My grandson is studying in the Indian school. I attended a
parent's meeting in April 2002 where I met Mr. Jerry Thomas and his wife for
the first time. I didn't know the couple before that, but my heart went out
to them because they were in such a bad situation.I made enquiries and found out that both of them were very good teachers,
but since they were honest and straight forward, they were attacked by
Principal and Manager. Their children were thrown out of school and made to
suffer great humiliation. No child in the world should be treated like this.
When we were young I know how hard it was to get a decent education. Now,
when the facilities are good how can a school which has 50 years history
treat its students like this?On last Tuesday I wrote to the Ambassador of India. He is Patron in chief of
the Indian school and on humanitarian grounds I asked him to treat Jerry
Thomas and his family like human beings. The school had dismissed them and
refused to pay them any dues. They were not given their flight ticket. They
were penniless in Tehran. They were at the point of begging. So I asked the
Patron in Chief to look into the matter and settle it. I am enclosing my
letter to the Ambassador.The very same day the Ambassador called me to his office. I went there
alone, because no one was willing to come with me because they were afraid.
When I met the Ambassador Mr. Giroh was also with him. They shouted at me
and ordered me to apologize for writing letter. The Ambassador personally
brought paper and pen and forced me to write the apology. But I refused. I
am 83 years old and I fear God, but I will never stand for untruth. I will
never bend my head in fear. The Ambassador wanted me to write that Jerry
Thomas is a bad fellow and whatever he has done till now is all bad.I was shocked that a man holding such high post in Government of India could
say such things. I am Indian passport holder. I am citizen of free India,
the biggest and the best Democracy in the whole entire world. How can
anybody treat me like this. They threatened me in the Embassy of India. I am
an Indian. The embassy of India has become a interrogation cell and a
torture chamber. Whoever goes there is threatened and made to apologize.
They have collected a lot of such apologies from Indians residing in Tehran
that most of the Indians tremble with fear when they hear the name of
embassy.I want you, respected sir, to provide me with protection. The media is the
most important arm of democracy. I know the pen is mightier than sword.
Please help a 83 year old Indian who is threatened by the Indian embassy in
Tehran.Very sincerely yours,
Shree Ram Mohindra
Telefax: 8905733
Tehran, Iran.
