By ANIL KUMAR GHOSH
As a common man if I were to say that I knew the ex PM Atal Behari Vajpayee, it would be too much to say. The truth is that I did get a chance to be a part of RSS drills under the supervision of the late leader in the late 40s. Kurmi Pathshaala now known as Ramadhin Singh Inter College would see frequent activity then. He was also a regular in meetings at Amiruddaulah Park and Victoria Park in Lucknow which were prominent nerve centres for the RSS.
Among the many tall members whom I saw back then were Bhalla, Jagannath Rao Joshi and ideologue Guru Golwalkar.
For me it was a great experience as I was always awestruck by Atal’s oratory and writing skills. Son to the first Indian Editor of the Pioneer, late Dr SN Ghosh, I was also witness to Atal’s gracious presence at the Pioneer building a few times that gave me a chance to have a ringside view of a great man.
Little did I know that Vajpayee the general secretary then would one day go on to lead the nation to great heights.
Vajpayee had the rare ability to gel well with people across the board. As a politician he had the same respect for a cabinet member as that for a booth level worker. A Man of Destiny his stitching up a 23 party non BJP alliance and leading the show typified his brand of politics. He had the fine quality of patience, being calm and never being over ambitious. Strongly against communalism, he worked tirelessly for the greater cause of India. It was under his very stewardship that Metro, highways, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Hindi literature and India’s nuclear arsenal got a further fillip.
An extremely sincere person, he never betrayed the party despite different people trying to influence him to switch over. He was not an opportunist, he was a realist. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee had once said, “If I get Atal Behari Vajpayee and Deen Dayal Upadhyay, I can change the face of India.”
He was once told by Pandit Nehru that one day he will become PM and that became true.
An efficient organizer he was adept at Hindi, Marathi and English. He also had the dubious distinction of being the Editor of the Panchajanya, the right wing mouthpiece. A frank person, he spoke from the heart and there was no difference in words and deeds. An attribute that was reflected in his writings as well. He had lesser affinity for the Communist nations.
Once out of Prime Ministership, he never stuck to the political circles. Unlike many of this generation he was never power hungry. He never married but he adopted a daughter.
Influenced strongly by Nirala, Rabindranath Tagore, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and Sharat Chandra he always considered the growth of his country his main goal. He wanted brotherhood, humanity over aggression and violence.
His policy on democracy is summed up well in his own comment – Sarkarein aayengi jayengi, Partiyaan Banengi Bigdengi par ye desh rehna chahiye, Loktantra amar rehna chahiye.
His comment that “Opposition has a critical role to play, politics should not become a business it is a mission” will continue to egg the coming generations in politics to understand the way good politics should focus on nation not self.
A true patriot, he was always for military training. He was against speaking to Pakistan for better ties till such time the attitudes of Pakistan do not change.
He was against giving special status to Kashmir which give them the right to have a separate flag. He felt that Kashmir is, was and should always remain an integral part of India.
During Emergency he went to jail, he had been quoted saying said it was Parliament that never raised a voice and that was a deep cut on the democratic fabric of India.
As someone who had seen crucial phases in the history of India like the freedom movement, Emergency, Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the shaping of modern day India, he inspired not just as a leader but also for by his oratory and writing skills.
I see the BJP as a party that has an important role to play in the post Vajpayee era with regards to nation building. I believe Lucknow MP, Rajnath Singh has the same appeal as did Vajpayee as an orator. In Vajpayee, India has lost an icon and a statesman whose life we will continue to remember for generations to come.
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