Politics has never been altogether bereft of good men or totally free of the bad ones. And, what sort of men are chosen for an office of the state at any time depends upon those who have the power to choose them.

Politicians' morals have always been loose by contemporary standards. Sardar Patel caused a big scandal when, soon after joining the interim government in 1946, he ordered luxurious furniture.

Why did our leaders choose to announce Independence at midnight, when not only the world but even most Indians were bound to be asleep? There was no television in those days to watch the event live.