ABSTRACT
The buzz of expectant chatter died to silence in the crowded room at Denison House in London's Vauxhall Bridge Road on 26 July 1960. Phizo entered the room. Reporters of many national newspapers were present; the London-based Indian foreign correspondents were there in full force. Although his frail stature was dwarfed by the six-foot Michael Scott at his side, Phizo's presence was one of assurance. He was immaculately dressed and mentally alert. His bearing on that first public appearance was composed because he had faith in himself. He had never deviated from his personal philosophy that man for his earthly, apart from his spiritual, existence needed a clear mind and regular exercise to balance all his functions. Throughout his life he had maintained that bodily sickness came from bad habits of eating, drinking and stress, and from useless negative habits of emotional thinking.
