After briefly toying with the idea of giving him his due—a clean chit in the Liberhan report; a major highway named after him in Hyderabad—the Congress party has suddenly but not unsurprisingly abandoned Pamulaparti Venkata Narasimha Rao high and dry.
Here, the veteran editor T.J.S. George pays the father of India’s liberalisation the tribute he so richly deserves.
***
Among the Prime Ministers of India, who was the most intellectually proficient?
The temptation is to point to Jawaharlal Nehru, the Cantabrigian who conversed with Bernard Shaw and Albert Einstein, who wrote classical books and masterpieces of English prose like the Tryst-with-destiny speech and the description of the Ganga in his last will and testament.
But, as in all human affairs, don’t glamour and charisma give an edge to Nehru’s appeal?
By the same token, doesn’t the complete absence of glamour and charisma in P.V. Narasimha Rao tend to hide his intrinsic worth? As Prime Minister PVN made himself notorious as the Mouna Muni, saying not a word when scandals rocked him and the country. His pouting lips were notorious too, but at least cartoonists loved them.
For all that, wasn’t he the finest intellectual who sat in the Prime Minister’s chair?
This is an inopportune time to bring up the subject of Narasimha Rao.
For one thing, the Gandhi dynasty’s penchant to bury non-dynasty leaders as immaterial has kept PVN in the forgotten category. Remember how his body was refused entry into the AICC headquarters, and how they turned down the family’s request for a site to bury him in the capital.
For another, Liberhan’s report on Babri Masjid demolition has revived memories of PVN’s inexcusable inaction when organised fanatics pulled down the mosque and unleashed a tidal wave of religious violence across the country.
But, inopportune or not, it has to be recognised that PVN remains in a class of his own as a thinker, writer and scholar.
His sense of humour was of the kind that only people of refined taste and erudition could have. A sample of this disarming attribute has just come to light through Mainstream weekly. In November 2003 he was to release a book on India-Pakistan by the late Nikhil Chakravartty, the most consequential editor of his generation. He was unable to do so and wrote the following explanation to Mainstream’s current editor and Nikhil’s son, Sumit:
“I am extremely sorry I cannot join you at your function on the 3rd. Because of excruciating back pain I have had to be admitted to the hospital just now. The treatment is simple: Lie on a flat bed, no one knows how long. There is no way I can move, except my moving along with my flat bed to the venue of the meeting. We are told that Lord Vishnu used to move along with his snake-bed, but I thought I would spare myself the responsibility of Godhood after what all I have already gone through as a human”.
Wit and wisdom came naturally to PVN, a master of thirteen languages who could read Greek, Latin and Sanskrit classics, impress Fidel Castro with his Spanish, speak Urdu stylishly, translate novels from Marathi to Telugu, from Telugu to Hindi, and give guest lectures in German and American universities.
He was an expert on classical military doctrines and a well-honed aficionado of music, cinema and theatre. He was the closest India got to Plato’s philosopher-king.
Look at the contrast.
Singularly unblessed men like Charan Singh and Deve Gowda have also sat in the prime ministerial chair. Ashok Gehlot’s Congress Government in Rajasthan today has a minister, Golma Devi, who could barely read her oath card and took three days to learn how to sign her appointment letter. And she is minister of state for nothing less than Home, Civil Defence and Rural Industries.
In Karnataka a wanton family that plunders the earth controls the Government. Unworthy men and women abound in Parliament. These are the realities that should make us grateful that a man like P.V.Narasimha Rao, warts and all, lived in our midst once upon a time.
Photograph: courtesy The Hindu
At the end of the day, PVN was a Bremin (as TS says). Liberalization was a big bremin bania conspiracy.
>>But, inopportune or not, it has to be recognised that PVN remains in a class of his own as a thinker, writer and scholar.
Agreed Sir! The only person in the congress clan I have some respect for. A great scholar and a true statesman I might add.
>> PVN’s inexcusable inaction when organised fanatics pulled down the mosque and unleashed a tidal wave of religious violence across the country.
Indeed it is inaction. I think it takes a genius and true leadership not to take any action in that situation. Ever heard the story of “letting it settle”? :) what could have any other “netas” might have done in that situation after all? Any suggestions which might have not made the situation worse?
T J S George is mixing up his vocabulary.
He is confusing skills with intellectual abilities.
Fluency in a dozen languages is a skill. Just because one is fluent in Spanish, does not mean you are an intellectual.
In Bangalore, even auto drivers are fluent in as many as 5 languages. Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and English. Does that make auto drivers intellectual?
If these auto chaps had acces to French and Spanish, probably they would master that too.
Other instances of his alleged intellectual abilities – are his knowledge on military doctrines, a well-honed (!) aficianado of music, cinema and theatre. Add a smattering of wit to it also.
Knoweledge about military doctrines, or knowledge about anything does not necessary mean one is an intellectual. A carpernter is a wizard in carpentary. A dentist in dentistry. And a software engineer in software engineering. Does that make them intellectuals? Or merely knowledgeable in a certail field?
As for being a fan of music, cinema and theatre – well, who in India is not a fan of music and cinema?
Yes, no doubt, PVN was a man of versatile skills and quite knowledgable. But HE WAS not an intellectual.
True intellectuals revolutionize society. They have an innate capacity to observe and analyse anything around them. They give deep, startlingly imaginative and refreshing insights about whats happening around us. They open up our mind to fresh perspectives about life, perspectives that we would never have imagined.
PVN did nto fit this bill. He was the ‘my-lips-are-sealed’ PM. Who was content being self absored in his ‘intellectual pursuits’ when scandals and problems of various natures rocked the country. He never tackled any problem either with confidence or with guile. Except for, saving his own chair (JMM bribery scandal)
Being an out and out BJP guy, if there is one individual in the Congress I have learnt to admire, it is PVN.
An understanding of our state of affairs at the time when he took over as PM will make it clear to all what an astonishing task he did. From being an almost bankrupt nation, unable to pay the external payment commitments, if we are today being rated as one of the world’s economic powerhouses, the credit should go largely to PVN.
And look at the treatement meted out to this genius by the followers of white skin!!! There are may in this forum who will crawl when the Madam asks them to bend. This article should be an eye opener for them.
BTW, Congress is yet to apologize for denying his family’s request to bury him in the capital.
Absolutely Right Sir!
Nehru was highly overestimated Politician whose legacies are still festering wounds: Kashmir and Ayodhya.
PVN, besides with all the qualities you mentioned above, had foresight to decipher the anger of Hindus. Though no one knows he was a party or not, but this much is sure he understood the momentum of the movement. Probably he also understood that if ‘if this moment is lost then Hindus would never ever get what is due to them and that structure would always keep mocking at them’. He perhaps knew that structure was not a symbol of ‘communal harmony’ but a tool in the hands of willy politicians.
Whatever Congress may say about him, but Nation will never forget him, he was really the tallest man among the stock of Congress, much much taller than JLN.
Regards and many thanks for saying what Prudent Indians must.
PI.
No doubt pvn is far more better than nehru and ohter ohter memebers of his family today no one remeembers him as becuase he is not from the nehru family.all party memebers of congress are slaves of nehru family and alwyas price them so when you see prsent da situation pvn was better.
@ Simple, You continue to amaze me!!!!
Agreed, PVN was no intellectual just because he knew 13 languages.
Agreed, PVN was no intellectual just because he “merely” was knowledgeable about military doctrines.
Agreed, PVN was no intellectual just because he loved music, cinema, art etc.. I am sure even a rickshaw puller loves to whistle in the cinema!!!
Agreed, PVN was no intellectual because he had all the other qualities which TJS has mentioned in his article.
I am sure, in your highly esteemed opinion, only two people fit the bill for being intellectuals in Congress. I dont need to take names, do I?
We have a breed of people in this country whose devotion to the first family of congress is so strong that they will become blind to the positive factors of others. Or try to find negatives even in the positives!!
Phew!
I am curious about the happenings in our neighbouring state.
Why is it that the Congress leaders consulting Sonia to take a decision? I mean, at the best she is Chairperson of the co ordinating committee of UPA. Right? And the person who is authorised to take any decision in this matter would be the PM. Why not consult with the PM?
And Simple still says that the power lies with the PM!!! And Rahul Gandhi is working without any position for the upliftment of the poor!!!
All said and done PVN was the best PM india had and the Nehru_ghandi family did not produce. I admired the way he handled papistan by lighting a fire under their bottom through MQM and Altaf Bhai and cocking a snook at the perpetually disgruntled minorities by opening full fledged diplomatic relations with Israel and also allowing the demolition of Babri Masjid aka the disputed structure.
He was also shrewd in handling the shroud of Turin by scaring her with the bofors genie.
However, the shroud of turin got back to him in his death by denying him a burial place in delhi…thereby exhibiting the narrow mindedness of the haloed family of india.
PVN was known for his wait and watch tactics. Many vital probles got solved on its own due its natural death, for which PVN got appreication.
BJP had understand with PVN to remain silent till work is done and then just blame, for protool sake. In fact, he also wanted it and BJP did it.
Maybe, just maybe, future generations of Indians will probably think of PVN as the Indian PM who prevented a communal catastrophe (as opposed to being in charge when a communal tragedy happened).
I would think that any use of force to stop kar sevaks would have irrevocably turned a large section of the population against the government and pro- Hindutva.
It would have allowed a hawk like Advani to sweep to power in 1996 (and sideline Vajpayee) all the time pointing to the blood of martyrs mercilessly shot/beaten/killed by brutal pseudo-seculars.
There would have been no coalition government, no moderate Vajpayee as PM and definitely a far more rabidly communal populace that would have resulted from any stern action on 6 December 1992.
I would think, in the medium run, the destruction of the mosque (as opposed to the construction of the temple) did cause a lot of people to rethink political support for Hindutva and forced the BJP to adopt a more moderate tone and policy when in power.
PVN may have just saved the idea of a secular India.
Being a polyglot does not make a person philosopher-king. Yes, he was was erudite, he was a gentleman – I have had some close personal interaction with him – and a robust optimist and a risk-taker. But Plato? That is am excess from TJS George.
There is no doubt that PVN was a man of great abilities and one of the tallest intellectuals to occupy the PM’s chair. However, his lack of glamour and questionable role during several scams and events that happened cloud some of his notable achievements such as liberalization.
@Simple, even if were to quibble about his intellectual abilities, just note that PVN was supposed to be fluent in 17 languages and wrote books and transalated works from one language to another. How many people do we know who could do that? He had a Masters in Law and held 4 or 5 different cabinet ministries (defence, home) in his political career and was a CM of a state which gave him varied administrative experience. All this without much of a mass base. So there must be something more to him.
And I would not be so dismissive of auto-drivers by saying “even auto-drivers”. Remember some post-graduates too take up this profession when they do not find employment elsewhere.
For all the RSS/BJP/VHP types paying homage to PVN. Who in your party is an intellectual who is held in high regard?
Jaswant Singh tried to write a book…
TJS is spot on. PVN is not a politician he is a Political Yogi. Nobody can take away the credit of him being the first non Nehru-Gandhi person to complete the full term in office as the PM and that too with a minority govt. If that is not statecraft then what construes? Forget anybody doing anything of consequence; how many realize that the very fact that to have a stable political leadership is vital for the nation state to see any kind of progress.
He clearly put regional satraps( Sharad Pawar) and members close to the first family(Arjun Singh) in their place.
PVN was instrumental in bringing an unknown economist until then; made him the finance minister and the rest is as they say history. He was the force behind the push for the nuclear armament experiments and it is only incidental that the tests were carried out during the BJP period after most of the work was done during his tenure.
Great intellectuals do not necessarily make great politicians or statesmen. Charismatic people are all fine and make good copy but their deliverables is about what the populi should be interested. Rather have an able administrator who is more erudite in the art of statecraft than pure charisma at the helm.
people can never forget his classic statement ” The decision to not to do anything is a decision in itself” when the multitude were expecting a radical action when the babri havoc broke out; as though radical action were to solve anything.
how many of the erstwhile PMs have sent a member of the opposition to the UN to speak on behalf of the nation or government? PVN did that by sending Vajpayee.
Well he also has had his share of scandals then again show me a politician whose hands are not dirty.
None can boast of a resume like his, scholar, linguist, gunrunner, chief minister, minister of different portfolios in Union Cabinet and ultimately PM. Can’t help feeling jealous!
Mr. Rao was my favorite prime minister — after Mr. Vajpayee.
*Simple*
I enjoyed reading your post (as usual), but I disagree with you. Educational psychologists have demonstrated the variables that constitute the intellect: (1) critical thinking skills, (2) problem solving ability, (3) vocabulary, (4) comprehension ability, and (5) pattern-recognition skills. Those variables are measured by standardized psychometric tests including the GRE, CAT, and various MENSA tests.
I think you and I are aware of PVN’s accomplishments in each of those five areas during his long political career, so I won’t indulge in examples for now. I just want to point out that you are stating an opinion that is unsupported by the science — I refer to your proposition, “True [as opposed to false??] intellectuals revolutionize society…. They give deep, startlingly imaginative and refreshing insights about whats happening around us. “
AG you view everything in only wavelength.
PVN did many important and very consequential stuff as far national security goes. for most parts there there is a continuity between and across the prime ministers including ABV and MMS. slow steady, middle of the path approach to things mainly india and the world. which has been net positive for india.
the only sad part is how the gandhi family was petty in not honoring atleast in death a congressman who will perhaps go down in the histroy of india as one of the most important pm in the first hundred years of the new republic.
and i’m not even talking about economy liberalization.
India had no option but to liberalize its economy since India was at the verge of bankruptcy, and was falling way behind China. PVN slept through the crisis.
Hutta
You are dead wrong, as usual.
I am never ever irrational in my beliefs.
I NEVER claimed there are only two people who fit the requirements of being intellectual in the congress.
Day before yesterday Rahul Gandhi himself has told openly that he does not have the qualifications to become a PM.
Sonia herself has told on many occasions that Manmohan Singh is the best PM for the country – and that she is not suitable for the post.
That clearly shows that the Gandhi family knows their limitations – at least appreciate this modesty.
You are force feeding these words through a tube, through my unwilling throat.
For all his extensive knowledge and translations skills, did he change the life of people?
This is what is called as cubicle intellectualism. You are content being in your own small world spweing forth so called scholarly works with zero effect on the nation or the common man.
By the way, it is the same PVN who everybody in these blogs are so fulsome in their praise, did everything in the dirty tricks department to save his chair.
The JMM bribery scandal, the chandraswamy episode, the St. Kitts affair, the harshad mehta bribery case, the lakubhai pickke patak case – all expose PVN for what he was .
An ordinary mortal who was only interested in retaining power at any cost.
Intellectual? ho-hum.
Simple, what you say may be true. But PVN must get credit due to him for bringing our country back on the rails. You know we had to pledge gold to pay salary to the employees. Those were testing times. He was instrumental in transforming our country, stabilizing the economy and improving the stature. All through his tenure, he was being harassed by Arjun Singh and others. He had to cope up with the tantrums of Jayalalitha. He was being ridiculed by the media for his silence, while all the way he was focussed on what he has to do. Yet, he didn’t lose his vision. I think, political leaders must be judged for their actions only after 10 years. During one of the anniversaries of PVN, where Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders had assembled, Dr. Man Mohan Singh, openly praised PVN eloquently saying that PVN, and not, he is responsible for the economic prosperity of the country and he was his true friend, philosopher and guide.
Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao,
Thank you for the destruction of License-permit Raj. For people of my generation you are “prathah smaraniya”.
Thank you also for shifting Kurukshetra from streets of India to sites like Churumuri. Millions can witness these wars (of words) from the comfort of their homes, without a running commentary by Sanjaya (I hope that sites like Churumuri are well funded or have solid revenue streams, this is going to be a long long battle).
>>But, as in all human affairs, don’t glamour and charisma give an edge to Nehru’s appeal?
>>For one thing, the Gandhi dynasty’s penchant to bury non-dynasty leaders as immaterial has kept PVN in the forgotten category.
These two statements are real truths…this is evident today, we cld see how much publicity was given to Indira Gandhi during her death anniversary!!! and Rahul baba has already understood the tricks of the family!!! a true beta….
Ever heard of a MLA/minister from Maharashtra – Shrikant Jichkar? He apparently had 20+ Post Graduate degrees in various fields and one who can be defined as a polyglot. The no. of gold medals he won from various universities during his studies is myriad. However I am not sure how successful and effective he was in running his various portfolios. I am also not sure if for being a polyglot he was termed as an intellectual. Scholar may be but intellectual?
The current lovefest and sudden discovery of PVN’s multifarious talents on this blog are mildly amusing. He was erudite but didn’t see much of that quality in use while he ruled IMHO. He was smart being silent most of the times. He is certainly having a big grin on his face now that his inaction and silence is being interpreted as a stroke of genious.
The word intellectual is far too often used in a very loose manner. What is intellect after all? And how different it is from intelligence? Our ountry needs intelligent people, not intellectual. Coming to PVN, he was an intelligent, sensible, very mature person who had his job cut out for him. Forget his scholarly matters. It is not for debate. He might not be a ‘Leader’, vote catcher, charismatic etc. But he has done his job effectively and why should we have any reservation in saying thanks. Compare him to others and think. Mulayams, Gowdas, Nidhis, Ammas, Behenjis, Chaudhuris, Laloos and so on.
Mysore Peshva
You have done a good job of faithfully reproducing the MENSA and CAT parameters to judge the intellect of a person. Which I shall faithfully reproduce again:
(1) Problem solving ability
(2) Critical thinking skills
(3) Vocabulary
(4) Comprehension ability
(5) Pattern-recognition skills.
If one were to rank these in order of priority, i would say problem solving ability would be the first – because if you are good at problem solving it automatically means that you are good at point 4 , that is comprehension ability. Because, unless you comprehend a problem, you cannot solve it.
It also means that you are good at point 2, that is critical thinking. If you cannot critically examine a problem, you cannot give a solution.
Except for his role in liberating indian economy, i don’t see PVN solving any of the pressing problems faced by India at that time.
He let problems fester, hoping that it would automatically vanish. he made a complete mess out of his links with people like Chandraswamy, the backfiring of V P Singh’s St.kitts dirty trick. And the JMM bribery scandal is not somethign a dignified intelllectual would proudly put on his resume.
As far as your pointing out that my premise of ‘true intellectuals revolutionize society….’ is not supported by science…well so be it.
Why can’t it be a new definition?
Don’t you think someone who receives a lavish certificate of being an intellectual should , at the least, change the way people think, for the better?
PVN did notthing of that sort.
He never changed anything. (barring the economy)
PVN was a man of status quo. He believe in letting things stagnate.
His policy was to TAKE NO ACTION – which is anti-progress and anti-evolution and anti-intellectual.
Entire nation has to thank PVN for his liberalisation policies and his vision and he was the one who put India on the path of economic developement. He was an intellectual PM.
Simpleji,
“Except for his role in liberating indian economy, i don’t see PVN solving any of the pressing problems faced by India at that time.”
Is this not achievement enough. And pray tell me who else or which great intellectual you have in mind who have solutions for pressing problems of India.
*Alok*
I like your hypothesis!
*Simple*
Sorry, but you continue to miss the point. Your argument suffers from a problem of validity — you are describing failures other than that of the intellect, but claiming otherwise.
Simplelu, – Apologize! lest I personally come over and force feed you your mom’s aalugedde palya. The nerve of you to be patronizing of auto drivers.
@Simple
Ok Saar, PVN is a loser. Tyaag Maata Ki Jai!
Couldn’t they let his body into the AICC headquarters for a few hours instead of leaving it outside the gates ? Why couldn’t the new Intl Airport in AP be named after him (After all he was one of the greatest administrators the State can boast of) ? (We have 2 airports named after Rajiv Gandhi.. oops he is from the royalty.. Indira is India etc..).
I have always said this and continue to say this. Sonia & Rahul are enjoying the kind of super powers which even Nehru, Indira and Rajeev did not enjoy.
Afterall, how many people have this privilege of having powers without responsibility? And look at what this lady did with Telangana? Midnight decisions which split a state!!
Simple, for a true blue CONgressiga, its not a very appealing thought that someone outside the first family occupying the pedestal. Sonia says that MMS is the best PM. Why? Because perhaps he is the only man who would have agreed to be a rubber stamp of a PM!!!
Hutta
I can’t answer to your presumptions and assumptions. Thera are a number of instances where the PM , Manmohan Singh held his ground. The most glaring example was the nuclear deal. India today is signing deals with France, Russia and other nuclear powers.
it is all thanks to Manmohan Singh. The greatest achievement in this century.Iit was Manmohan Singh’s initiative through and through. He made sure that the deal went through although his own party colleagues were lukewarm to this proposal.
To say that MMS is a puppet of Sonia is an insult to Indians.
Does Rahul Gandhi enjoy power without responsibility? What a semi intelligent thought. There is not a single instance of his interfering in the ministries. He is a grassroots guy, going about doing his job, meeting people from all walks of life – from IIM to dalits in slums.
Rajeev Gandhi parachuted to the PMs post. Rahul Gandhi is working his way up. That is the difference between father and son.
And Rahul Gandhi, still says that he does not have the merit to be a PM. That is so beautifully humble. Recognise this fact, instead of endlessly carping about Gandhi family.
IT is the RSS which enjoys power without responsibility. It is Advani who enjoys power without responsibility.
Advani never took the embarassing defeat of his party and quit. He took zero responsibility, yet he clings on to his chair. He wants power but no responsibility.
Curry Hurry,
Well, i don’t know the case of his dead body not being allowed inside AICC..i need to know the other side of the story before judging.
Vitlan Potli
I apologise for being patronizing of auto drivers. I have no problems in accepting my faux paus.
probably i should have said any person who speaks 6 languages is not necessary an intellectual.
Mysore Peshva
You say that i am describing failures other than that of the intellect. Hello?
you were the one who said, problem solving ability is a part of the intellect.
if that was so, let us see the problem solving capabilities of PVN.
he solved no problems, excpet making sure that he saved his chair, through unhealthy means.
Well, so much for blinkered vision.
Just to start with, when the Telengana issue broke, the CONgressis did not go to MMS for the solution. They went to Madam for solution. A clear indication of who calls shots in the government.
Whenever petrol prices are hiked, MPs make a plea to Madam for reduction in the prices. Not to the PM. And channels whose bosses have been bought off by the CONgress with padma awards proudly say ” Mrs. Sonia Gandhi intervened and reduced the burden on aam aadmi!!!”.
Regarding Rahul Gandhi, let me make this point very very clear. The only reason why he is doing all that he is doing is because he knows that the position is waiting for him. I mean, he does not have to build any good will amongst the fellow CON men, he does not have to worry about some other leader usurping his position, hell he does not even have to worry about catering to his constituency!! So obviously he goes around doing what he is doing. BTW, have you forgotten the classic picture of his where he was seen TOILING with a peasant carrying a PLASTIC pile of dirt with SHOES on in the fields when this poor woman was seen carrying an IRON pile on her slender shoulders, walking BARE foot????
HUMILITY???
Somehow your words brought tears to my eye.. for the humbleness of your prince who says that he is not yet ready for the post of PM. Oh mi god.. what humbleness, what humility, what down to earth personality???
But then when my tears dried up and brain took over its rational decision making process once again, it asked me ” Hell, stop crying. There are many more CONgress MPs who are in politics atleast as long as this Junior Gandhi’s age. When they are not talking about being ready or not ready for the position of PM, now does this juvenile talk about being ready for occupying that post?”
Then I realised that in the days of yore, there were kings who allowed their princes to go through the process of earning their spurs the hard way. The princes could afford the time out because they were secure in their thoughts that the kingdom is theirs for asking, whether they are ready or not.
The same is true in case of your prince also.
Like I said Simple, there are people who are willing to crawl when the first family wants them to bend….
Clearly that breed is not going to die very soon.
That clearly explains what kind of GRUELLING sessions your prince is going through to cement his place as PM!!!
Hutta
You are wrong as usual.
Rahul could have got the PM post five years back. Again five months back he could have got the top job. That means he has sacrificed ten years already of his fledgling political career
Look at the difference!
Mr. Vajpayee, took the PM seat in 1996,when he did not even have a majority. But Rahul had the majority twice over in 2004 and 2009, yet he is not interested in becoming a PM
In this day and age, no person will sacrifice a single day of power, forget about sacrificing ten years.
Therefore, Rahul Gandhi is simple notches above any other politician.
see, what our beloved BJP CM of karnataka did, post the recent Reddy revolt, he swallowed his battered pride to retain the kurchi.
Retaining kurchi is important at any cost, for BJP. Not for Rahul Gandhi.
That is the difference between Rahul and other greedy polictical persons.
The true impact of many police changes that PVN brought about was visible long after he was gone as PM. For example: government jobs were the all time flavour and many aspiring youngsters were focussed only on snapping up that elusive government job even if that meant bribing. A decade later – and even now, in some sectors – opportunities exploded. If IT jobs commanded sk-high figures of salary, it was more because of lack of right candidates, than employers willingness to pay those figures. It’s PVN’s approach that led to aspiring entrepreneurs unleash their creative energies and multiply jobs. It’s also to PVN’s credit that he chose Manmohan for the Finance Minister’s job. Can we imagine today waiting for that telephone connection for months on end, forget about getting license to import computers?
A well-deserved recognition for PVN by TJS.
Simple SwamigaLe–
Auto chaalakaru speak all those languages because they want to cheat any fare.
Please continue to defend Rahul. With all the non-degrees he earned at St. Stephens, Harvard, and Oxford, he needs all the intellectual support he can get. Also, if you know, please tell me if Maneka Gandhi has succeeded in her desire to be the first NG to get a legitimate college degree. I think she is an intellectual. All the street dogs she saved in Bengaluru bark so.
George is on to something. What he has written is the consummate funerary oration. He is an honorable man. In the next BJP government Information and Broadcasting will be his for the asking. For now, maybe the Karnataka BJP will send him to the Raajyasabha while it is still in power. In any case who the hell is he to say that our own former primate Gowda is without charisma? If everybody could read this mischievous piece, the streets of Karnataka would be flowing with blood.
As for what the word “intellectual” signifies, maybe we should poll some of the people we have mercilessly bloodied in this space from time to time–URA, Karnad, Gowri, for example.
Any south indian becoming a PM is a big problem up in the north its a simple as that.
Simple,
Power comes with its own responsibility. And greater power comes with greater responsibilities.
All the blah blah you have given about Sri Vajapeyee becoming the PM without the majority etc shows how lopsided your thinking is. At that point of time, BJP was the single largest party in the Loksabha and as per the established tradition of the house, the leader of the largest democratically elected party will be invited to form the Govt. Vajapeyee was invited thus. And when he could not prove his majority, he resigned. What is wrong in this?
Now let me come to the power without the responsibility part.
Imagine an organisation. There are various levels of management, headed by a MD. What would be the ambition of every individual working in that organisation? To become the MD. Right? Now if there is an individual in the organisation who has such powers within the place that all his decisions are okayed by the MD directly, gets a salary higher than the MD, perks better than the MD, stays in a bungalow better than the MD, car better than the MD AND does not have to take crap if any of his decisions backfires, do you think such a person will EVER crave for the position of MD???
That is the position of this half educated moron in your party.
Now get the drift?
***
And by the way, you still remember this famous saying ” We have got thoo sevethy thoo”. Dont you?
PVN is certainly the best Prime Minister we had after Nehru.
A lot of people think Nehru sucked at his job, and converted us to a quassi-communist state. They are only partly right. While Nehru made quite a few blunders (Kashmir, China and Socialism), he did one big service to the ‘idea of India’ – He practically defined it and delivered it.
His book Discovery of India (1942-1946) is a great effort to describe why India is a nation. I don’t think any other book has put forth why we are a nation as succinctly as he has done. Having defined the Indian nation, he went on to build institutions that can sustain that nation. I believe Nehru is a singular reason why India didn’t go Pakistan’s way (Though his daughter Indira Gandhi tried her best to screw it all up).
Nehru bungled all right. But, we all have 20:20 hindsight, but he had to build a new nation, and no one in India had any experience in state craft at that time. So, we need to view it in Balance.
We perhaps lost about 2-3 decades of economic growth due to his (and Indira Gandhi’s) policies. But, in 1940s socialism was very attractive and most new nations seemed to be going that way (china included).
Kashmir reference to UN with a promise of referendum was an instinctive thing to do for a democrat, but he failed to consider the plight of the Hindus and Buddhists of Jammu & Ladakh when he made that offer. By then it was clear that Hindus were systematically being driven out of parts that went to Pakistan, and ceding more territory to Pakistan would’ve meant more killings. With the hindsight we know status of Hindus in Pakistan – less than 1.8% Hindus currently as against 18% at independence, so we can afford to reach an easy decision, but it wasn’t so for Nehru at the time.
He perhaps got in to a war with China, for which our army was unprepared. This perhaps was his greatest blunder.
After Nehru, it was PVN who changed the historical wrong direction of India. He steered India away from Socialism and set it on a path of growth. Yes he wasn’t the most honest guy, but, he had cunning to manage a turnaround, when majority of Indian MPs weren’t for reforms.
Vajpayee, whom I respect even more than PVN, doesn’t make the cut as a great PM, in comparison. He had a golden chance to change India by changing it even more radically (as he didn’t have historic baggage of Congress). But, he couldn’t because BJP seemed more keen on Godhra, Ram etc. What a chance he missed to change our education, Legal and administrative systems. His only achievement in the end was – Road Infrastructure.
MMS has the potential to be a great PM, if he gives free hand to Kapil Sibal and Veerappa Moily to transform these two critical areas. Our transition to a great modern nation would be complete.
huttadallihutta:
I think you are biased against the Congress & Gandhis.
Vajpayee was a great man, perhaps as a politician he was as great as Nehru in his democratic & secular instincts and his ability to rally people. He was certainly better politician than Indira/Rajiv *and* current Gandhis. He was bigger than BJP, and had the referral power to stare down RSS. He was the primary reason for people like me to vote for BJP.
Today, I don’t think BJP has a leader of that stature. In comparison, Gandhi’s look better. Yes, I agree a dynastic power transition leads to a feudal system, and isn’t ideal. However, India voters maturity as a democracy isn’t to a level where we can rally behind issues instead of people. Gandhi’s provide one pole around which a party is rallying.
RSS provides the other pole for the BJP. I think both of these are essential for now. May be in another generation or so, with better education, people will move away from these ‘backbones’ and develop a two or three party democracy (instead of supporting freak shows like Mulayam, Mayawati, Lallu, Mamata, Karunanidhi/Jaya etc).
Also, don’t be disparaging to Manmohan Singh. He may yet turn out to be a far better prime minister than even PVN. The audacity he showed in Nuclear Deal is amazing.
Simple:
>Mr. Vajpayee, took the PM seat in 1996,when he did not even have a majority.
Vajpayee indeed took the oath, when he wasn’t sure of his numbers in 1996. The assumption at the time was that his Emergency jail mates (like RK Hegde) would help him get the majority (Janata Dal etc). But, things turned out to be different. It isn’t possible in a Parliamentary democracy to go any other way. Someone has to be invited, and president couldn’t have invited PVN or a leader of 5-6 smaller parties.
Sonia/Rahul seem better than India/Rajiv in terms of temperament and instinct. But, they haven’t done anything of substance yet. Just rejecting PMs seat isn’t sign of a good leadership. If a director within a board says he doesn’t want to be MD, it doesn’t mean he is better, it just means he isn’t confident and isn’t prepared to get his hands dirty.
We’ll judge both of them by what they do for the country, instead of what they have chosen not to do. As of today I can think of two acheivements of theirs – Manmohan Singh as PM and RTI (which they are trying to dilute).
Hutta
Warped thinking.
Rajeev Gandhi got 190 odd seats in 1989 – he was invited by the then president to form the govt. being the single largest party. But Mr. Gandhi politely declined
he too could have grabbed teh pm chair – and then gone around trying to cobble a majority.
But bjp did not do the same. they first grabbed the chair and took the nation for a 13 day rickety ride. Why grab the seat when you you know very well you are not capable of gettting a majority?
This is opportunism at the worst.
All your convoluted rambling about MD flies in the face of what RSS is doing to BJP. An extra constitutional authority like RSS gets to decide everything about BJP.
from who will be the leader of opposition to who will be the president of the party.
No BJP bigwig has the courage to say no to the RSS. Mere remote controlled by RSS, BJP has lost the ability to think.
In Congresss, it is differnt. Sonia Gandhi is elected by the people of India. she has every right to take decisions on behalf of the party. But RSS is not elected – so it has no right to take decisions, but BJP allows RSS to take decsions on its behalf.
Manmohan singh takes decision on behalf of the govt.
This is a wonderfully compartmentalised role, which went along smoothly for the past 5.5 years. Not a single wrong note was struck between these two – it is a beautiful arragement. A perfect symphony. A jealous BJP cannot stand this synchronised performance by Sonia and Manmohan.
But look at the difference between RSS and BJP
Every day there is pulls and pressures from RSS< every day BJP comes out with a denial saying that it is its own man. Every day RSS thrusts its decisions on BJP. Everyday there is bitter acrimony and open slugfest between BJP and RSS
People of INdia are clever. THey see this shameless naked power games of BJP and RSS and vote them out.
But they will vote back Congress because – relationship between sonia gandhi and manmohan singh is so beautifully harmonious.
>People of INdia are clever. THey see this shameless naked power games of BJP and RSS and vote them out.
Amen.
Simple:
>first grabbed the chair and took the nation for a 13 day rickety ride
Vajpayee had told in an interview he had assurances from TF constituents of support, but when Congress assured them of support, and Left Front told others they can form a govt. Things turned for BJP.
It isn’t entirely a claim. Hegde and Gowda were at loggerheads and Hegde was a known BJP sympathizer, and Karnataka had a large contingent of MPs. It is entirely possible things went sour in 13 days, which is too long in politics (especially if Gowda is involved) …
Face up to it RSS posters, BJP had no one of the caliber of PVN then and now has no one of the caliber of Manmohan Singh or Rahul Gandhi. You dont even have 1 decent leader who a young person can look up to and feel any hope that they would lead India into the future.
The likes of Sushma Swaraj and her children the Reddy bros etc. as the next generation. Best of luck, if you are hoping such leaders are going to inspire any hope in the younger generation who would be far more difficult to fool with emotions, rath yatras and mosque breakings.
Hutta
Thu chi for your comments:
We have got tho seventy tho ——yes, she said that. But did she become PM? Did she sit in the PM chair and then claim that she will produce a majority? did she say she wanted the PM seat for herself?
Nopes.
That.
That is the difference between Cong and BJP. Cong does not sit in the PM seat and then slink back in embarrasment because they could not produce majority.