NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Slain American journalist Daniel Pearl's interaction with journalists in Kerala was brief, but he left a lasting impression.
Daniel and his wife Marianne were unexpected guests at a get-together at the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club last year.
As a Wall Street Journal correspondent, Pearl was after a story about a resistance movement by a group of farmers in Kerala. He came to the press club because he wanted to use the computer there. Later, the office-bearers requested him to put off his return by a day so that he could be a guest at the get-together.
Daniel spent about two hours at the venue, mixed with journalists and presented prizes to children who won competitions held on the occasion.
Former president of the press club, P P James, reminisced: "He was quite a jovial fellow with a sense of humour. Looking at a coconut tree illuminated with big electric bulbs of different colours, Pearl said, 'I have seen coconut trees before. For the first time I am seeing coconuts of different colours.'"
On his return, the press club sent a mail thanking him for spending a few hours there. There was no response for the next two days. The fourth day Pearl sent a message which said: "That was a wonderful evening. I will not forget that. See you again."
"I never knew that we would never see him again," James added.
ALSO READ India condemns Daniel Pearl's murder Text of Pearl's family's statement Musharraf vows to track down killers Pakistani police received video of Pearl's murder No deal with abductors: US Daniel Pearl is dead: US
Tell us what you think of this report