by Thresia Paulose

Created on: November 04, 2009

It was a black Saturday for me which dawned with a shocking news. Some thing cruel, unimaginable and unbearable for me had happened in the other side of world when I was sleeping. It dawned with a horizon grayer than usual. I thought it might be because it would bring some stormy monsoon rains which was usual in November in our place in South India. But it the news was worse than any storm. President Kennedy, friend of India, had been assassinated. The shock of the day is still indelible in my mind.

The Red News of the Black Day

I was doing my second year college studies at Salem in South India. Our classes began at 9.30 as usual. We were sitting in the class waiting for our professor, who punctually enters the classroom. But minutes passed only with some unusual rumblings noise outside. We could see through the window he professor coming with a newspaper in his hand discussing with another professor seriously. He entered the class with a sullen face which is still vivid in my memory.

The Unbelievable News

Our nation has lost her devoted friend He could not hold his words. It is very sad. The American President Kennedy has been assassinated.

How could it happen? Tat too in such a civilized country? Something hard was pulling my bowels in my stomach. I felt the whole world reel under my feet for some moment. How could it happen to such a powerful man in the world? To such an energetic young leader loved by people in his own country and abroad?

But it had happened. That Friday in the US state Texas was reddened with innocent blood. President Kennedy had been brutally shot dead by an American called Oswald Lee, at a city called Dallas, in the United States of America. Indian newspapers could give only a few details as the last news as the day was already changing in India.

A Staunch Supporter of India

The news paper our professor showed us the profile photo o the assassinated President. What a courageous and graceful smile it was! Our professors used to share the news that they had read n our classes. We were used to be enlightened by their comments. We were reminded of a lot of things from our professors given in previous classes about President Kennedy. He was really a very staunch supporter of India, especially during the Indo-China war. He helped India in so many ways.

A National Loss

The Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru described that India had lost a great friend and a humanitarian. He remembered the great reforms he could carry out and move for world peace with the friendship of President Kennedy. Indian newspapers cited the timely help of Kennedy during the Chinese sudden attack. It was the diplomacy of Kennedy that played a vital part in that unexpected war.

A Courageous World Leader

JFK stood strong like a rock against Khrushchev, the Russian Premier of that time, in the issue of Cuba which frightened the whole world as if it would face another world war. As a democratic and benevolent nation he came forward with his attempts through the Peace corps for the world peace. He worked tirelessly for the uplift of the poor and downtrodden. Actually, JFK lived in all hearts as a generous leader of the world.

A Sacrifice of Heroism

Mahatma Gandhi, Father of our nation, fell to the bullets of a fanatic in his great 'Satyagraha' for the communal harmony between the Hindus and Muslims. President Kennedy sacrificed himself and laid down his life for the cause of human rights.

Misfortunes occupy easily our thoughts and talks. The news from All India Radio (we had no television that time) and the dailies occupied all thoughts and talks of the Indians on the day when President Kennedy was assassinated -on that 'Black Friday' November 22nd, 1963.

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