An Ode to a Lodestar – Leader
By Pamarty Venkataramana
Politicians come in several shades and hues. Man is as social an animal as the more civilised a society becomes. Almost every human being likes to dabble in politics – be it in interpersonal relationships or at a more non personal and broader canvas of a community, society or State and even the whole Nation or World itself. As a behemoth, few rise from seemingly nowhere and become the pole star of destiny.
India has witnessed many such shining stars in public life but the shine and glow of Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji is going to be as permanent as the Druv Tara !
He has left an indelible mark by establishing that even a short period of power is enough to bring about positive changes both within and outside the country’s borders. And, he was one who endeared himself to worthy opponents like late Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao as well as military junta head of a rival country. He could show spine to match nuclear tests of naughty neighbour as well as open up bus route to the very ‘enemy’ nation. He could floor best of orators with his repartee and rhetoric. Praised for his couplets and poetic verses in Hindi, the scion of erstwhile Gwalior State first discovered this bundle of talent and given the fillip, he never looked back on the national firmament: post Jan Sangh and Janata party era, he teamed up with L K Advani ( another formidable force of the presently in power BJP party) to start the BJP party and together they raised the -‘Jai Sri Rama’ war-cry to win the hearts of a majority of the country’s population. Rest is history with even the present incumbent in office, Modi ji being a protege of the most venerable Atal Ji.
What comes to one’s mind on watching the outpouring of adulation from across all streams of society is the awe and admiration an honest politician can generate even in a scam-hit society and the suffering endured by a leader of vision, with a mission and single-minded devotion to the cause of upliftment of society and betterment of the lot of poor, under-privileged and ostracised people.
As regards communal harmony, he was as secular as can be and most happily participated in iftaar parties organised by Muslim brethren and being witness to few such hosted by legal heirs of the late Nizam’s family and the liveliness he brought to such gatherings, one can only praise for his ‘secular’ outlook.
Personal habits are one’s own choices and ought not to cloud one’s evaluation of a departed leader of men and women. His singular contribution to welfare of Indian Muslims has been the Haj Act amendment that helps fulfil the Muslim devout to perform Haj and Umra as piously as possible. He was the messiah for India’s Muslims when as a foreign minister in Prime Minister Morarji Desai’s Cabinet, opened up visas to the Gulf region and thus helped this section of India ‘s vast population to grow into a mighty economic and political force in the four decades since then..!
A spirit of RSS Hindutva is co-existence and live and let live.
A true example has this beloved ‘son of India’ shown – set by example.
He led by precept – from the front!
r.i.p. Ataljee !
Jai Hind ! 🇮🇳🙏
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