In the run up to August 14-15, 1947, in the stable of Viceroy's House (now Rashtrapati Bhawan), on either side of Lt. Commander Peter Howes -- ADC to Lord Louis Mount Batten stood Major Yacoub Khan, bodyguard of the Governor General of Pakistan, Mohd. Ali Jinnah , and Major Govind Singh, bodyguard of the incumbent Viceroy in the House ( later Governor General of Free India Lord Mount Batten ). 

It was Peter Howes' idea to settle the stakes with the flip of a coin. Up went a sovereign in Silver. The stakes were six stately carriages ornated with Gold, and six semi stately follow ups in Silver. 'Heads' was the call by Major Govind Singh. The coin swirled and settled on the stable floor. The trio in uniform, who by training always stoo tall and upright, - Peter, Yacoub and Govind bent. Govind had won India its first Gold!

Much before that, India had won an asset, more valuable than any Gold or Silver. Ironically, it was a five letter word on which Pakistan in its wildest dreams could never lay claim. India refused point blank to accept the British suggested dominion status of a divided India as 'Hindustan'. It insisted on India the five letter word. It ensured its continuity as a member with the United Nations! Pakistan had to enlist fresh.  

The 'nuggets' of gold and silver are well documented facts of history. I culled it from books on Partition I have in my personal library for a tourist guide, who had wanted me to vet her mugged up, prosaic, parroted  20 year old commentary on Lutyen's Delhi  Rashtrapati Bhawan being the most visited. I advised her:  better leave it to the tourists to ridicule it or tag it ridiculous, and tourists from Pakistan, if any, need not be told!

What sounds hilarious today was heartburn, by the hour, 62 years back. Property took precedence over territory in the settlement of 1947. It was a greedier, downright grab. Muslims opting for Pakistan wanted the Taj Mahal  a Moghul relic to be brought down piece-by-piece and shipped to Pakistan; hardcore Hindus wondered if River Indus could be 're coursed ' to flow through India, for 'Vedas' were penned on its banks ?

Under property settlement -- in Indian libraries, 'Encyclopedia Britannica' were handed over in perfect equality. Volume A going to one country; Volume B to another, till India and Pakistan had 13 alternate Volumes each. Then came dictionaries! Since words could not be divided  they were neatly ripped in two halves. Referral alphabets A to K went to one hand; L to Z to the other. Over books, both frothed like hungry wolves!  

Chaudhari Mohd Ali, for Pakistan and H.M. Patel, for India oversaw the split which went down to the last spiral of slaughter. Time came, when the two gentlemen ( who drove down daily from British funded bungalows in British bought chauffer driven American Chevrolets ) gave up in despair. Sardar Vallabbhai Patel would have none of the nonsense. He summoned the two, not to his office, but to his sparsely bedroom !  

Locking both the bureaucrats in, he threatened to open the doors only after an agreement was reached. It worked. The Mohd. Ali-H.M.Patel were let out after a peace pact: Since the British were leaving India with a five billion dollar in debt, spent on World War II, Pakistan were to get 17.5% of the cash which the banks held and the Pound Sterling Balances. In return, it was to cover 17.5% of India's national debt. It was all Greek.

The two caretakers cum receivers moved on to movable assets with over  100 bureaucrats in committees, sub committees. Offices across the sub continent drew up lists of tables, chairs, typewriters, inkpots, pin cushions, water jars, umbrella racks, dishes, silverware, portraits, curtains, bulbs, fans, even brooms and embarrassingly enough chamber pots -- in which the Burra sahibs used to periodically relieve themselves.

The singular exception was the wine cellars Hindus took all; Muslims, forbidden to partake alcohol, took cash equivalent to the contents. Who carted home the cellars from the office? Nobody knows! Far away in Lahore, the Superintendent of police, Patrick Rich doled out the lot -- leggings, turbans, rifles, lathis in equal measure to receivers, and flute for Pakistan, drum for India, trumpet for Pakistan, cymbals for India.

Back in Delhi, India plumped for the Gold and White Vice Regal train but no record exists who rode on it, from and to where, or if, at all, any of the leaders at that time had time ! Pakistan eyed the fleet of cars of the British Commander-in-Chief of India besides the one that Governor of Punjab rode. India had only one printing press for national insignias  stamps and currency. Pakistan agreed to stamp 'Pakistan' on Indian currency.

Here's a 'tail' to the ‘piece’! The last Lord of India on Her Majesty's Service and the first Governor General of India, Lord Louis Mount Batten quietly pocketed what was not his ? It was such a wonder from the workshop of the Jodhpur Royalty. Read on: The Maharaja of Jodhpur, signed an agreement to accede,  at the Viceroy House, uncapped a fountain pen which turned out to be miniature .22 pistol hollering protest.

On hearing the Maharaja threaten Sardar Patel's Man Friday V.P. Menon,Lord Mount Batten rushed in, confiscated the lovely, little arm. It was in mint condition. It went with him to England. Came a day when magic fascinated the former Lord of India. He uncapped the fountain before the famed Magic Circle of London and the trick won him membership. The cutie of a beauty has since been on display at the Magic Circle's Museum.