A confession

I grew up in left wing circles. But I was never a communist, partly because I did not understand what it was and secondly I did not believe in a philosophy of every thing. But Russia always had a hold on me as far as I can remember. It is possibly due to MIR books that were available and also the influence of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy who I read when I was in my teens, I think it was in the 1990s, I was travelling possibly to visit Peter Scott and the plane stopped longer than usual in Moscow. It was hot and they opened the doors and the plane’s step ladders were down. There was a sudden and strong urge to go down and touch Mother Russia. I decided that it was a silly feeling for an agnostic like me and refrained. May be if I get a chance again and if health permits, I will visit Russia.

P.S. It turned out to be an interesting trip. At one stage after Moscow, the toilets on our side were engaged and I went to another section of the plane. I found PPC Joshi ( a friend and a communist. His father was killed during The Telangana struggle around 1950) there who was going to the British Museum to get photocopies of Telugu books. I think, I met him later in Chicago which he visited for some book exhibition. It is possible that I am mixing up different trips.

P.S.

Ashutosh Jagalekar writes:Russia has always been a great country with terrible leaders. Freeman Dyson was so taken with it that he wanted to emigrate there instead of to the US after the war. But Stalin made it clear that he would not welcome foreigners.