Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy have been at loggerheads over various issues, with each taking a turn to criticise the other. However, Narayanasamy translating her speech at a function today came as a pleasant surprise to many.
At the inaugural of the 53rd annual Kamban Vizha, a literary festival, Narayanasamy agreed to Bedi's request to translate her speech into Tamil. This left the scholars and delegates in attendance surprised.
As soon as Bedi went up to the dais to speak, she wanted to ascertain how many people would be able to understand her speech as it would be in English.
Education Minister R Kamalakannan initially volunteered to translate her address into Tamil.
However, the lt governor expressed wish that "my chief minister should translate into Tamil what I say in English".
Responding to her request, Narayanasamy came forward to translate.
She, however, asked the chief minister in no uncertain terms that he should translate "only what I say".
To this, Narayanasamy said he could not "guarantee it."
Bedi said, "I trust you just for 10 minutes and it is only a temporary friendship."
The former IPS officer, who highlighted the features of the 'Ramayana' and "Kamba Ramayana", said she was glad Narayanasamy "possesses good knowledge of not only Tamil but English, Hindi and French also."
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