In 1961 the PPP was elected as the government for the second time, 1957 being the first. My father, Ram Karran, was appointed a Minister of the Government in both 1957 and 1961. On this latter occasion I distinctly recall that in December, 1961, a large number of Christmas gifts were delivered to our home. I vaguely remember the decision that the gifts were not opened. They were stored in our verandah. Some time later, but before Christmas, the gifts were returned unopened. Again vaguely, I recall discussion to the effect that government ministers were not allowed to receive gifts.
The PPP built a legacy of ethical administration during its two governments from 1957 to 1964. Of course, there were accusations of corruption, but these were few and far between, were never proved and never gained traction. The PPP’s history of clean government together with the modest lifestyle of PPP leaders between 1964 and 1992, as opposed to that of opposing politicians, entrenched modesty and incorruptibility in administration as part of its
