Dr.Dinesh
Copy of Telegram & Letter to
Prime Minister Shri.JawaharlalLal Nehru from John Richardson, Member of Parliament.
Richardson
Bishop
Car Nicobar Date, January 29-1957
The Hon’ble Prime Minister
Shri. JawaharlalLal Nehru
Prime Ministers House
New Delhi.
Copy of telegram dated Car Nicobar 29-1-57
The Prime Minister
Prime Minister’s House
New Delhi.
“ Finding it very difficult to attend sessions of the LokSabha regularly. I request that my name be dropped out of the list of Nominated members for the next term of the house.
Letter follows”
sd/-
Bishop Richardson.
Sir,
Car Nicobar is 150 miles south of the Andamans. There is till no regular communication between the official Head Quarter, which is Port Blair, and the outlying islands. The present means of communication is by small diesel engined boats, owned by a merchant. The tonnage is about hundred tons and it is rather risky to travel during bad weather. Each boat is equipped only with a life boat big enough for the sailor alone and no wireless. I have risked my life travelling in these boats several times. Once I have given up all hope of life. The engine may breakdown in the middle of the ocean. The highest speed is 5 miles an hour and against the wind it be 3 to 4 miles per hour.
The “M.V Nicobar” touches Car Nicobar both ways from Port Blair to Madras, once in two months. Then registered letter or parcels are conveyed and reached the addressee at last. Otherwise they will be lying in the post office for months together. One has to wait at Port Blair for some times before he gets a boat for the mainland.
On way back from Delhi the boat, though have fixed times she does not sail in scheduled time. If her arrival is delayed so also her departure will be. She is often held up in Port Blair either owing to a Dock strike or other causes in which case one has to spend at least a fortnight or more waiting. Before he reaches his destination.
The summon for the next session over- takes him which have travelling in a postbag in the same boat. I am not a young man now and find the 2000 miles backward and forward rather tiring. I have accepted my first nomination not with-reluctant knowing my own difficulty. It was a great honour bestowed on me by the government to represent my primitive people in the house. It will be a great kindness of you to excuse me in the next nomination. To say honestly I can do more for my people by being near them than to sit in the house. By being an M.P I have made many enemies. They were not allowed to sell their articles on land but on their ships, to avoid trouble with the Nicobarese.
To be continued…………
