Issue 43 Vol II, July 15, 2007

T R I B U T E

A Tribute to Chandra Shekhar [1927-2007]

FOR many Chandra Shekhar was just one Indian prime minister who lasted barely seven months. That is when you measure contribution of an individual in terms of time span. But if anyone looked at that brief tenure and that too of a minority government dependent upon a Machiavellian bunch of Congressmen, the contribution outclasses many others. There would have been neither any Operation Blue Star nor demolition of Babbari Masjid. But there was serious well thought effort to bring peace to the torn region. He took total command in his hands to talk to Pakistan and bring peace to Kashmir. I shall narrate one anecdote to place this statement that Chandra Shekhar was serious and had the courage to lead and do something tangible to settle the issue of Kashmir and also offer justice to the Sikhs.

Also, he refused to bow before the then Congress leader, Rajiv Gandhi to get more life for his ramshackle government. When he found that Congress was demanding too much for the outside it was extending to his minority government, he thought it best to quit. His reply to the President address in Lok Sabha was remarkable for deeper political thoughts, fine oratory and commitment to democratic values. He was all the time a democrat and rooted in the earthy life of village India. Hailing from the poorest region in terms of economic development, but rich in cultural traditions of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, the Balia district, Chander Shakher’s mannerism and his deeper understanding of the Indian masses and their problems made him a unique leader. He never once lacked empathy for them always remained as core of his personality. He lived for years in political wilderness if we measure it with power, but was the tallest Indian political figure than many other prime ministers including Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Morarji Desai, Charan Singh or V.P. Singh.

Chandra Shekhar, born on April 17, 1927, in a poor Rajput farmer’s family at Ibrahim Patti in UP’s Ballia district that played a historic role during the freedom struggle, was a postgraduate from Allahabad University. He was the leading light of the students’ movement. He joined the Socialist Party after his studies and carried on his work under the tutelage of Acharya Narendra Deo.

At more human level, he was always friendly, helpful and caring and full of understanding of the issues confronting the country. He understood international relation unlike many others. Here is just one instance.

After a tit a tat press conference which he usually held at the residence of his own time colleague and minister, Harmohan Dhawan in Chandigarh, I took him aside and asked him what real efforts he was making as prime minister to bring peace between India and Pakistan. He said, “I tell you in confidence. During a meeting of the leaders from the region, I took Nawaz Sheriff [Pakistan’s prime minister] that we are two poor countries beset with whole lot of problems like poverty, education and are unable to provide even drinking water to large population in the two countries and what kind of mischief we are at. Why don’t you stop your horses making mischief in Punjab and Kashmir? He replied that bade bhai pehle app esse karo [big brother, first you do something]. Your people create hell for us. I understood the game. We promised to talk to each other at least once in a week on hot line. When I came back to Delhi, I instructed and over above the agency and its officers in Delhi that no mischief now. Nawaz sheriff was honest to admit that he too had stopped the mischief business. We created a rapport in which the two neighbouring prime ministers could talk freely. This was helping build confidence and though many people in the Indian establishment did not like, I went along. If I had time, we would have peace in the region. There is nothing insurmountable. I was doing the same in north east, with Naga leaders and with Naxalites and with Khalistanis.”

This conversation lasted for half an hour. His press conferences, I would often tell my colleagues, even if they did not sometime offer front page stories were a great education. The man was honest to the core, did not play with words and indulged in no subterfuge. With many journalists who posed loaded questions, often with intent to spoil the press meet, he would be curt. Telling them plainly, “Gentleman, either you know nothing or you upstaging on someone’s behalf. I won’t let you do that”.

Chandra Shekhar was a member of the Congress for less than 15 years — from 1964 to early 1977 — in a political life spanning 52 long years, he was one of the few of quintessential Congressmen till the end.  His enduring relevance to Indian politics much after he ceased to have a horde of MPs or MLAs with him was entirely due to his commitment to socialist democratic ideals.  He remained significant all through, though Congress for long has abandoned those ideals. Here was one the tallest leaders who had no big political party to lead compared to those pigmy size leaders with hordes of small time politicians to lead.

Chandra Shekhar was Prime Minister for barely seven months but his world view was always prime ministerial. There is no doubt about that. He proved this even when he was Young Turk and supporting Mrs Gandhi in her fight against the Syndicate of the Congress. A  note prepared by Chandra Shekhar and other Young Turks  became the core of Indira Gandhi’s famous “stray thoughts” at the All India Congress Committee’s Bangalore session in 1969. These “stray thoughts” proved the catalyst for an ideological shift in favour of the progressive ideas and  was the basis of Indira Gandhi’s celebrated victory in the March 1971 Lok Sabha elections.

Chandra Shekhar is the last of the legendary leaders who inspired masses not only to fight for independence but also for social and economic equality. His famous Padyatra touching all corners of India [of over 4300 kms]  inspired thousands to struggle for justice and betterment of the country.

Shekhar passed away after a long illness on JULY 8, 2007. He preferred to remain a loner as he refused to make many compromises. He had the courage to walk alone, ekla chalo, as Gurudev Rabinder Nath Tagore would wish. Only he could condemn the Operation Blue Star, the army assault  on Golden Temple. Rare indeed these days of power haggling and good life that most politicians seek.

BACK